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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Damos on October 12, 2005, at 17:37:11
We Aussies give our Kiwi mates a fair old bagging at times, but here's an article from this mornings Sydney Morning Herald which points out that they have it all over us in a lot of important ways.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/keep-up-with-the-kiwis/2005/10/12/1128796590188.html
Posted by crazy teresa on October 12, 2005, at 18:23:17
In reply to Keeping up with the Kiwis, posted by Damos on October 12, 2005, at 17:37:11
Posted by Declan on October 12, 2005, at 19:56:30
In reply to Keeping up with the Kiwis, posted by Damos on October 12, 2005, at 17:37:11
But why do they come over here then? I wouldn't. They have a foreign policy that has self respect. Nice climate. Quiet. Different mix of people to Australia. Lots of people from the Pacific. No John Howard. Beats me.
Hey Damos, you didn't see or hear John Doyle's speech at the Andrew Olle 10th anniversary thing? That's what we need in this country. I was so impressed.
I also get the impression that you get a better class of person (better character) in politics in NZ, compared to here.
Declan
Posted by Damos on October 12, 2005, at 20:35:58
In reply to Re: Keeping up with the Kiwis, posted by Declan on October 12, 2005, at 19:56:30
Hi Declan,
No didn't catch it but have just downloaded the mp3. Here's the link if anyone's interested.
http://www.abc.net.au/sydney/stories/s1476723.htm
At a guess I'd say it's largely related to opportunity.
Damos
Posted by rainbowbrite on October 13, 2005, at 10:26:02
In reply to Re: Keeping up with the Kiwis, posted by Declan on October 12, 2005, at 19:56:30
>No John Howard
Yeah, Ive heard about him, he sure is something!!!Although I think alot of people feel that grass is greener syndrome. People in NZ seem to like Australia, you know?
Posted by Toph on October 14, 2005, at 9:09:48
In reply to Keeping up with the Kiwis, posted by Damos on October 12, 2005, at 17:37:11
"Kiwis exude a confident, intelligent feminism that spreads across all generations and sectors..."
So that explains why alex is always bustin' my chops! ; ) Toph
Posted by alexandra_k on October 14, 2005, at 17:46:03
In reply to Re: Keeping up with the Kiwis » Damos, posted by Toph on October 14, 2005, at 9:09:48
> So that explains why alex is always bustin' my chops! ; ) Toph
Aw (((Toph)))
;-)
Posted by alexandra_k on October 14, 2005, at 17:48:41
In reply to Re: Keeping up with the Kiwis, posted by rainbowbrite on October 13, 2005, at 10:26:02
> Although I think alot of people feel that grass is greener syndrome. People in NZ seem to like Australia, you know?
Yeah. Well... There is a rivalry thing going on... Lots of Aussie jokes etc. But underneath that... I think that we realise that when it comes to the rest of the world... Us Australasians (name given to people from Australasia - NZers and Aussies basically) well, we gotta stick together.
More in common with each other than the rest of the world...
:-)
But that being said... Not very many Australians move to NZ...
Posted by alexandra_k on October 14, 2005, at 18:00:19
In reply to Re: Keeping up with the Kiwis, posted by Declan on October 12, 2005, at 19:56:30
> But why do they come over here then?
Usually... Employment opportunities. We have something of a problem of losing our graduates to overseas. Basically... We are a little country.
I'll use this example (because its about all I know but have heard comperable stories with respect to other types of work too).
Academia.
Thats 5 universities.
What are the chances that any of them will have an opening in your field for the level position that is appropriate at round about the time you need one?
Close to zero... Close to zero...
Because of our welfare system, health system etc etc... Well... The funding for that has to come from somewhere... And so there is a three stage taxation system which involves round about... 33% for those in the highest income bracket (I might be completely wrong here but that might be 33c out of every dollar earned over $50,000 per year). Thats pretty steep... And if you pay less tax overseas (as you tend to in most developed nations) then thats more in the hand. And if you are being paid in foreign currency (in most developed nations) then you are also better off than you would be in NZ given the exchange rate.And then...
There is a matter of what sort of life you want to live...
Most people (who visit from all over...) say that NZ is a lovely place to raise children and to retire. The implication being that with respect to daily life... It is fairly 'laid back' AKA boring as hell. We don't have proper cities. And with proper cities yeah you get problems... But you also get lots of things to do. Arts, culture, stuff to do 24/7.
Another thing (back to academia). 5 universities. Easy to see how one can quickly become the only specialist on whatever in the whole damned country. Isolation. Thats a problem. And many many hours to get to the UK or the US or Canada. Australia isn't too far away... But still.
We kind of are on the end of the earth...
Hmm. I never thought of this...
But maybe thats why we are called 'New Zealand'.
(zee being the last letter)
I dunno...
I wonder where the old one got to...
This is the end of the thread.
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