Prime Minister John Key says the exodus of New Zealanders to Australia, which hit a new record in the year to January, will not be turned around "in five minutes", although the government is starting to stem the flow of people leaving for the lucky country.
A net 38,100 people left New Zealand to go to Australia permanently or long term in the year to January 31, a record for a 12 month period, Statistics New Zealand announced yesterday. There were 51,900 departures to Australia, offset by 13,800 arrivals. In both directions, most migrants were New Zealand citizens.
Key said the numbers leaving were boosted by people leaving Christchurch after the earthquakes which have hit the city over the last two years, while the Australian mining boom also meant medium-skilled New Zealanders were taking off across the Tasman. Those who have left Christchurch may return once rebuilding was underway in the city.
Key warned Australia's unemployment rate had begun to rise and said New Zealanders were often not eligible for Australian welfare support if they were out of work there. Outside of the mining sector the Australian economy was weakening, he said.
Meanwhile, a strengthening New Zealand economy and the rebuilding of Christchurch would mean the exodus would be turned around.
"Over time we are starting to close that gap," Key said.
17 Comments
Key warned Australia's unemployment rate had begun to rise........... the Australian economy was weakening, he said.......................
"Over time we are starting to close that gap," Key said.
I don't think a race to the bottom was quite what folk envisioned, Johnny, when you said you'd close the gap with the Aussies.
What codswollop Mr Key.
Your ineptitude responding to Christchurch is driving more away than the earthquakes themselves.
Your reliance on Christchurch being some economic salvation is grossly overestimated.
The rebuild may be $10billion over 20 years, perhaps $500m a year - not even half the annual revenue the lost buildings provided!
The earthquakes are more likely a net negative for the economy - more lost than gained.
Pull up your socks and sort yourself out Mr Key, your legacy is one of failure.
Maybe if Key and co were leading like those reported here, there'd not be such a drift out of ChCh:
Little wonder we should also be seeing this:
'Property cash to make it's way north'
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/christchurch-earthquake/news/article.cfm?c_id=1502981&objectid=10790039
"Graeme McDonald, the Property Council's South Island branch president, said Christchurch had about 400,000sq m of commercial office space before the quakes. The value of that stock had now halved and he also fears money being pulled out.
"We've long identified capital flight to Christchurch City Council as being a major risk," McDonald said. Little was happening with commercial investment property as many owners had not received payouts and plans for the rebuilding were not finalised.
"We're still waiting for the final tickoff from the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority on the draft central city plan. When that arrives, people will know about the rules and regulations in terms of the rebuild," McDonald said, adding that many ex-CBD businesses had already shifted to suburban areas where they had lease commitments.
"Prudent investors with properties in Christchurch might consider divesting their portfolio to reduce the risk factor," McDonald said.
Harris said the location of Christchurch's new town hall and convention centre would have a big impact on values and prospects in the city yet this was undecided."
Some thumbs need to be pulled from you know where and communication needs to dramatically improve. Poor communication = poor motivation, what are we seeing?
clearly labour supporters. if clark had stayed in we would be greece all over. very short memories.
wake up and look at the rest of the world. nz is comparatively unscathed.
CHCH is no ones fault and the solutions are not 5 minute fixes.
it is not often i stick up for a politician but the posts here are unbalanced
What rubbish Kane, I've voted National or Act all my life, my parents and grandparents voted National their whole lives.
Key has bumbled his way through and is entirely incapable of sorting out the economic issues facing NZ.
NZ is and was never going to be another Greece. Christchurch's current problems is 90% the failure of authorities to act. So were 90% of the February deaths.
Brownlee and Key can't be bothered and seem intent on making insane decisions such as selling critical assets, while at the same time wasting money and resources (esp in ChCh).
Key and co are trying to direct the country down a path which will lead to financial ruin.
Austerity is Greece's problem. We should not follow the same failed path.
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