Had to laugh when I read this in today's paper. Not sure why wealthy Australians would want to live in Northland, one of the poorest parts of New Zealand when there is the rest of the country to chose from.
Mayor views rich Aussies as answer to northern woes - National - NZ Herald News
"Live in New Zealand, work in Australia. That's the new lifestyle some see as Northland's economic future.
Far North Mayor Wayne Brown says attracting wealthy Australians to live in Northland is one of three keys to tackling the region's high unemployment rate, along with tourism and mining.
And Berl economist Kel Sanderson says many Kiwis are already commuting on the Auckland-Perth "miners' express" between their homes in New Zealand and mining jobs in outback Australia.
"We were on that the other day. They get on and off the planes in their shorts and jandals and an overnight bag. They have homes in both places so they don't need luggage," he said.
"They live in digs in the mines up there and have a house back here."
Northland has Australasia's highest unemployment rate of 9.8 per cent. The next-highest rate in New Zealand is 7.9 per cent in Auckland and Hawkes Bay/Gisborne, and Australia's highest rate is 5.8 per cent in Tasmania.
The recession in Northland has had most impact on young people, with 29 per cent of the region's 18- to 24-year-olds now on welfare, and on Maori, with an extraordinary 48 per cent of Maori aged 18 to 64 on benefits. "
Mayor views rich Aussies as answer to northern woes - National - NZ Herald News
"Live in New Zealand, work in Australia. That's the new lifestyle some see as Northland's economic future.
Far North Mayor Wayne Brown says attracting wealthy Australians to live in Northland is one of three keys to tackling the region's high unemployment rate, along with tourism and mining.
And Berl economist Kel Sanderson says many Kiwis are already commuting on the Auckland-Perth "miners' express" between their homes in New Zealand and mining jobs in outback Australia.
"We were on that the other day. They get on and off the planes in their shorts and jandals and an overnight bag. They have homes in both places so they don't need luggage," he said.
"They live in digs in the mines up there and have a house back here."
Northland has Australasia's highest unemployment rate of 9.8 per cent. The next-highest rate in New Zealand is 7.9 per cent in Auckland and Hawkes Bay/Gisborne, and Australia's highest rate is 5.8 per cent in Tasmania.
The recession in Northland has had most impact on young people, with 29 per cent of the region's 18- to 24-year-olds now on welfare, and on Maori, with an extraordinary 48 per cent of Maori aged 18 to 64 on benefits. "
