time to move to Aussie?

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3419 posts

Uber Geek

#2731364 20-Jun-2021 11:05

FineWine:

As a senior nurse in Sydney in 2013-14 tax year I earned double what I earned in my first tax year back in NZ 2014-15.

My brothers youngest 41yr son has been working the mines in WA since early 2000's started from nothing with no skills or qualifications except 5th form NZ School Cert. He is now a mines project manager and pulls over $250,000/yr and his wife is a mines geologist and earns about the same.

My nieces 19yr son has just started work in the mines in WA, via the afore mentioned uncle. No skills or qualifications except NZ NCEA and the, must pass, compulsory mining pre-employment intro courses provided by the employer. He is now earning as a bottom of the ladder employee $105,000/yr. They are 12 hour shifts starting at 0500 and he FiFo's up from Perth. Not to sure about how many days on/off.

If he keeps it up he will be on the Perth property ladder before he his 25yr.

A pal of mine went to drive diggers in WA around that time, lured by the big bucks,

One thing you don't hear about is the cost of living. He said 'feesh and cheeps' cost $20, as did a jack n coke at the pub.

On average Aussies do earn more, but if you're after a high income, can you seek that out here, through training and specialisation?

My brother works in the NZ oil and gas industry - the working conditions resemble the mines, weeks away from home in harsh environments.

He earns good money but he's paying a price of that.

Having said all that, if anyone believes the grass is greener, go and try it out, especially if you're young and not tied to anything.

I couldn't think of anything worse than living my whole life thinking, I should have done that when I had the chance.

Most of the posters in this thread are just like chimpanzees on MDMA, full of feelings of bonhomie, joy, and optimism. Fred99 8/4/21

antonknee

1133 posts

Uber Geek

#2731367 20-Jun-2021 11:10

mattwnz:

Well the Kiwi Dream, of the quarter acre section is over unless you live in a small town, but even houses in small towns can now be the best part of a million. Many need a lot of money spending on them, as kiwis seem to be poor at home maintenance.

Oh don’t worry, I gave up on the Kiwi dream at about age 14 when even the crappiest houses in my small town were selling for $500k.

I moved to Auckland and accepted I’d never own dirt - but did manage to buy an apartment. I’m under no illusions that I’m incredibly fortunate to have made some good decisions earlier in life with saving, and incredibly fortunate to have found a job that is stable and pays me above the average here in NZ.

The Kiwi dream is a nightmare for the average NZer now.

antonknee

1133 posts

Uber Geek

#2731368 20-Jun-2021 11:14

Fred99:

I've got many friends in Aus with kids now in their 20s to early 30s. Number of them who own a house or apartment = 0.

Most (probably all IIRC) of them have got large student loans to repay, the well paid jobs on offer are all in major centres, they don't want to live in sprawling outer suburbs of Sydney/Melbourne or in some sleepy sh*t-town with a nice climate when the main attractions are an RSL club with parking for 1000 mobility scooters and a 10 metre high sculpture of a painted fibreglass piece of fruit on the side of the main road in, and a social scene where everybody falls down drunk around the BBQ while the local radio station plays Kevin Bloody Wilson on repeat.

The grass may seem greener, reality may not quite meet expectations.

Conversely, I work for an Australian company and have very close working relationships and friendships with a number of 20-30s. Most of them own apartments, townhouses or even in a couple cases a freestanding home on a small-ish section in central-ish suburbs of Melbourne (like Hawthorn or Caulfield or the city centre).

Of course every individual’s experience will be different, but in aggregate the average person would likely be better off in Australia.

antonknee

1133 posts

Uber Geek

#2731372 20-Jun-2021 11:18

elpenguino:

A pal of mine went to drive diggers in WA around that time, lured by the big bucks,

One thing you don't hear about is the cost of living. He said 'feesh and cheeps' cost $20, as did a jack n coke at the pub.

Is this cost of living in those remote areas? I imagine that could be quite high for things like that due to the cost of getting stuff there. Certainly not the case in metro Perth at least according to some people I know there.

elpenguino:

I couldn't think of anything worse than living my whole life thinking, I should have done that when I had the chance.

Amen to that. I know not everyone can just up sticks and change their entire life and it’s quite a privilege to be able to do so, but don’t live life under a constant cloud of “what if….”

Fred99

13684 posts

Uber Geek

#2731428 20-Jun-2021 12:09

antonknee:

Conversely, I work for an Australian company and have very close working relationships and friendships with a number of 20-30s. Most of them own apartments, townhouses or even in a couple cases a freestanding home on a small-ish section in central-ish suburbs of Melbourne (like Hawthorn or Caulfield or the city centre).

Of course every individual’s experience will be different, but in aggregate the average person would likely be better off in Australia.

The trends don't look good - except for boomers:

FineWine

2981 posts

Uber Geek

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#2731525 20-Jun-2021 15:20

elpenguino:

FineWine:

As a senior nurse in Sydney in 2013-14 tax year I earned double what I earned in my first tax year back in NZ 2014-15.

My brothers youngest 41yr son has been working the mines in WA since early 2000's started from nothing with no skills or qualifications except 5th form NZ School Cert. He is now a mines project manager and pulls over $250,000/yr and his wife is a mines geologist and earns about the same.

My nieces 19yr son has just started work in the mines in WA, via the afore mentioned uncle. No skills or qualifications except NZ NCEA and the, must pass, compulsory mining pre-employment intro courses provided by the employer. He is now earning as a bottom of the ladder employee $105,000/yr. They are 12 hour shifts starting at 0500 and he FiFo's up from Perth. Not to sure about how many days on/off.

If he keeps it up he will be on the Perth property ladder before he his 25yr.

A pal of mine went to drive diggers in WA around that time, lured by the big bucks,

One thing you don't hear about is the cost of living. He said 'feesh and cheeps' cost $20, as did a jack n coke at the pub.

On average Aussies do earn more, but if you're after a high income, can you seek that out here, through training and specialisation?

My brother works in the NZ oil and gas industry - the working conditions resemble the mines, weeks away from home in harsh environments.

He earns good money but he's paying a price of that.

Having said all that, if anyone believes the grass is greener, go and try it out, especially if you're young and not tied to anything.

I couldn't think of anything worse than living my whole life thinking, I should have done that when I had the chance.

And that is what my partner and I did in 1983 - mind you it was the Muldoon era and the start of the Hawke/Keating era - we moved at the right time.

Is it now the right time for Kiwi's to go to Aussie to find the greener pasture ??

Whilst the difficult we can do immediately, the impossible takes a bit longer. However, miracles you will have to wait for.

mattwnz

20141 posts

Uber Geek

#2731629 20-Jun-2021 18:55

Fred99:

antonknee:

Conversely, I work for an Australian company and have very close working relationships and friendships with a number of 20-30s. Most of them own apartments, townhouses or even in a couple cases a freestanding home on a small-ish section in central-ish suburbs of Melbourne (like Hawthorn or Caulfield or the city centre).

Of course every individual’s experience will be different, but in aggregate the average person would likely be better off in Australia.

The trends don't look good - except for boomers:

Is that from the stats website? 2016 is 5 years ago, so I expect it will look even worse now. The government could instantly help things by removing GST from new builds, and taxing vacant houses. Many NZ houses empty at the last census, and there was a property expert on the radio yesterday saying that there will still be a fair amount of vacant houses in NZ, even though census data may also show other reasons for some of them being empty . At the moment is is all about waiting and seeing, but they don't seem to want house prices to drop. But they need to drop about 40% to get back to 2019 levels, and even then they were considered very expensive.

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mattwnz

20141 posts

Uber Geek

#2731632 20-Jun-2021 18:58

tdgeek:

An exodus would reduce house demand here? If there was a brain drain and Govts here and businesses prefer a low wage economy, on the surface, an exodus is probably ok.

It wouldn't likely have any affect on housing, as they will just increase migration. Except people moving from overseas to NZ maybe more likely to accept living in rentals for life. I can see rentals in NZ being more commercialized, and it will become harder for mum and dad landlords over time. Many of those mum and dad rentals are poor quality older houses, and the insulation and other standards for houses will only increase over time.

Fred99

13684 posts

Uber Geek

#2731706 20-Jun-2021 20:37

mattwnz:

Is that from the stats website? 2016 is 5 years ago, so I expect it will look even worse now.

Those are Australian stats. Yes I'm sure it'll look worse now.

I guess I'm of the generation that caused it. Most of my friends own multiple rental properties and consider "unearned income" to be a basic human right.

elpenguino

3419 posts

Uber Geek

#2731766 20-Jun-2021 21:56

antonknee:

elpenguino:

A pal of mine went to drive diggers in WA around that time, lured by the big bucks,

One thing you don't hear about is the cost of living. He said 'feesh and cheeps' cost $20, as did a jack n coke at the pub.

Is this cost of living in those remote areas? I imagine that could be quite high for things like that due to the cost of getting stuff there. Certainly not the case in metro Perth at least according to some people I know there.

I think he was domiciled in Perth. He might have been pulling my leg or mebbe I only got half the story. I can imagine some prices rose due to cashed up customers.

In his case, my friend spent all his money and his high income didn't have an enduring financial benefit for him.

It would probably work out better for other people - those who are more disciplined, anyway.

Most of the posters in this thread are just like chimpanzees on MDMA, full of feelings of bonhomie, joy, and optimism. Fred99 8/4/21

Kiwifruta

1423 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#2731769 20-Jun-2021 22:22

jim.cox:

antonknee:

Historically been a great country to live in and raise a family, but can you confidently say that will remain true over the next 30 years?

Speaking from personal experience, NZ has been a pretty hard place to raise a family in the past 20 years (especially if you put the kids first and try to do it one income)

Fully agree with your sentiments - offshore looks to me a much better bet for most young kiwis.

This is my situation. Single income with a wife and 4 kids to support. I absolutely love NZ. Anyway, last week I was offered double my current salary in Brisbane for work in my field and in a similar role. Houses prices are 1/2 to 2/3 those of Tauranga. Why is it that Aussie incomes are higher yet their houses are cheaper? (apart from Sydney)

Batman

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29760 posts

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#2731771 20-Jun-2021 22:38

Kiwifruta:

This is my situation. Single income with a wife and 4 kids to support. I absolutely love NZ. Anyway, last week I was offered double my current salary in Brisbane for work in my field and in a similar role. Houses prices are 1/2 to 2/3 those of Tauranga. Why is it that Aussie incomes are higher yet their houses are cheaper? (apart from Sydney)

they have rich natural resources.

my friend says they dig a hole and money comes out of the ground

elpenguino

3419 posts

Uber Geek

#2731773 20-Jun-2021 22:44

Kiwifruta:

This is my situation. Single income with a wife and 4 kids to support. I absolutely love NZ. Anyway, last week I was offered double my current salary in Brisbane for work in my field and in a similar role. Houses prices are 1/2 to 2/3 those of Tauranga. Why is it that Aussie incomes are higher yet their houses are cheaper? (apart from Sydney)

Are they though?

https://www.9news.com.au/national/australia-house-prices-2020-national-average-hits-record-high-as-lockdowns-ease/bf8383a8-c4c4-4345-9f7f-4976437621e4

....report showed that for the 2020 December quarter, Australia's national average price .... $852,940.

......

Sydney ........ $1.2 million.

Melbourne is a close second .... ... $936,073, ....Canberra ($855,530), Brisbane ($616,387) and Adelaide ($574,264).

Part of the reason for Oz's higher incomes is more militant trade unionism.

Houses might be cheaper due to scale of the market and land supply. Last time I looked, it's a big empty place :-)

Most of the posters in this thread are just like chimpanzees on MDMA, full of feelings of bonhomie, joy, and optimism. Fred99 8/4/21

Kiwifruta

1423 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#2731775 20-Jun-2021 23:06

elpenguino:

Kiwifruta:

This is my situation. Single income with a wife and 4 kids to support. I absolutely love NZ. Anyway, last week I was offered double my current salary in Brisbane for work in my field and in a similar role. Houses prices are 1/2 to 2/3 those of Tauranga. Why is it that Aussie incomes are higher yet their houses are cheaper? (apart from Sydney)

Are they though?

https://www.9news.com.au/national/australia-house-prices-2020-national-average-hits-record-high-as-lockdowns-ease/bf8383a8-c4c4-4345-9f7f-4976437621e4

....report showed that for the 2020 December quarter, Australia's national average price .... $852,940. ...... Sydney ........ $1.2 million. Melbourne is a close second .... ... $936,073, ....Canberra ($855,530), Brisbane ($616,387) and Adelaide ($574,264). Part of the reason for Oz's higher incomes is more militant trade unionism. Houses might be cheaper due to scale of the market and land supply. Last time I looked, it's a big empty place :-)

I was living in Tauranga where last month the average price hit $1million, so yes the house prices of Brisbane are 1/2 to 2/3 the cost of Tauranga's.

Torque

379 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2731779 20-Jun-2021 23:47

I moved to Aussie (NT) in 2011 for work (not in the mines, public sector) and at the end of a full year had doubled my meagre previous salary and was earning $80k+ with seven weeks of annual leave. When I finished up in early 2016 to return to NZ, I was on a little over six figures.

Cost of living for me was slightly more, but quality of living was substantially better. Only thing I really missed was NZ brands in the shops! If I hadn't returned to NZ to take up a new career, I'd still be there and would strongly consider moving back in the future given the state of the housing market and quality of life.

If I'd known the citizenship pathway that opened up mid/late 2016 was in the works I probably would have stayed - not a hard threshold to cross.

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