Keeping up with followers

Gandhi said that he had to hurry to keep up with those who followed him, but I doubt that NZ PM John Key sees himself as another Gandhi, if only for the dress issues. While his Government keeps yapping on about catching up with Australia, more and more actual, you know, evidence is building that the long steady flow of people finding life better across the Tasman is coming to an end. Number of Australians migrating to NZ doubles in 10 years

The number of Australians moving to New Zealand has nearly doubled in the past decade, official immigration statistics from Canberra reveal. The latest figures show 14,352 Australians made the big move in the 2008-2009 financial year.

The previous year, the number stood at 14,160, whereas in 1998-1999, just 7468 migrated to New Zealand.

[..]This year's report shows the number of Australians who left the country for good was the highest ever.

But, but, wait. No, if they come here that would mean they think they have more chances here than at home. That doesn't suit the discourse needs of those wanting to change everything here.

Just over 81,000 emigrated during the financial year - an increase of about 5.3 per cent over the 2007-2008 year.

The report said most were young and skilled workers.

Business New Zealand chief executive Phil O'Reilly said many people coming to New Zealand were chasing a particular job or opportunity that they could no longer find in Australia.

Others, he said, were New Zealanders who had moved across the Tasman to work and were now returning home.

"Infrastructure and mining opportunities over there have been slow, and if you've got a trade or better, it's much more likely that you'll get a job here even during a recession."

Mr O'Reilly said having many young people choosing to come to New Zealand to find jobs was only a temporary trend.

Ah, the get out of jail free card. Of course, just a blip. Our big brother will always be so much better than us, we'll just have to try harder.

The challenge New Zealand employers faced was to get people to stay and to get them to think of it as a career as opposed to a job.

Hah. Businesses treating their employees as costs rather than assets is the first problem he and his mates have to solve there.

"You're more likely to leave your job if you don't like it.

Umm. Old hat. The days of getting narked and walking out are about gone. We have 16% unemployment here and not much better in Aussie. Moving country is now a serious decision and taken on the basis of broader considerations than just getting a better job.

[...] Statistics New Zealand figures show that in the year ending in October, 21,200 residents moved to Australia either permanently or long-term. In the previous October year, that figure was 34,600.

Migration to Australia has been trending down since the figures for the year to December 2008 showed 35,600 people had shifted over.

Look at the shrinkage, 30% fall in less than a year? Something big is going on. Pay attention guys.

Right now 80% of NSW is drought-declared and another 14% precarious as they face a record hot dry summer. The drought is getting worse year by year and shows no sign of abating, just as the climate change "believers" said it would. Some time soon the "oh shit" moment is going to become the norn across the Tasman and our biggest problem will be coping with 100,000 NZ'ers returning home in a drove.

Catch up to Australia? No thanks.