SOLD: Beautiful Happyzine

Positive Writing Graduate Ruby Jackson argues in favour of sticking it out in Aotearoa, rather than chasing the greener pastures of Australia.

With recent events in Christchurch, and economic recession many New Zealanders would right now be contemplating jumping the ditch to live in Australia. An increasing number of kiwis are making the big move, and it’s not just young singles spreading their wings. The lure of better wages and opportunities, is also attracting families and businesses. But is the grass greener on the other side?

Having moved in reverse, I can see all the really good things about living in New Zealand. As well as being friendly, safe and beautiful, you’ve also have got water.

Australia is a predominately desert. It’s either feast of famine when it comes to water. Water restrictions prevent you from growing flowers or having a lawn. Imagine watering by hand. That’s no hose allowed just a watering can. In the height of summer when water restrictions are at their peak, you just have to let the lawn and flowers die and hope they come back in the winter.

Washing your car at home is another luxury. In a city of four million people like Melbourne, you can only wash your car in a commercial car wash that recycles its water, as the run off down the storm water drain would pollute Port Phillip Bay.

The food here tastes better. Ever had Australian tomatoes? All I can say is bland.

Jo, a visitor from Australia, commented on the fresh corn I had dished up for dinner. She was blown away be the taste. Is it in the soil? Farming methods? Not sure, but the other good thing about New Zealand fruit and vegetables is that they are cheaper to buy. This might be an extreme example but would you be prepared to buy bananas at $15 a kilo?

Janelle has returned to Nelson after 12 years of living in Perth. Her husband, Shaun, a chef, found the lower wages a little bit harder to get used too, but what she has noticed, is a great improvement in their social life. Living in a smaller community with two young children, they have more friends dropping by than in Perth. Travelling distances often stopped them from socialising with their friends. Bigger isn’t always better. Big Cities can be lonely places.

So ok the wages might be better, but so is the cost of living. House prices prevented Sandy and Simone for settling in Australia. After five months of searching, they returned to New Zealand because they couldn’t find a house in their price range that gave them anything like what they could buy here.

It’s friendly here. New Zealand is so lucky to have the treaty. It may not be perfect, and still an ongoing process, but at least there is one. Australia’s historic appalling treatment of its indigenous people has had a detrimental effect on its relations with other countries. Being a culturally sensitive country attracts tourists, allows better trade relations and ease of travel for Kiwis going overseas.

Greg, an Australian sales executive living in Auckland for the past 17 years, was recently refused entry to Brazil. His travel agent had forgotten that he was on an Australian passport and needed a visa. He said this has happened before, and that New Zealand passports were more widely accepted.

It’s safe here. New Zealand has no snakes, no poisonous spiders, no stinging jellyfish, and no crocodiles.  I certainly don’t miss snakes, although they do play an important part in the ecosystem, they are quite confronting when you meet one in the bush.

What I miss the most, by crossing the ditch, is my family. You can start a new life, new job, new friends, but you can’t replace your family. Christmas Day is very difficult for me. Traditionally spent with my extended family eating excessive amounts of food, I always hated the overconsumption and consumerism of it all. But never realised there was a lot more to it than that.

Consider before making a decision the pros and cons of leaving this amazing place. Make a list. What is it you will miss the most? Close your eyes and imagine what your day-to-day life might be like? You could be surprised that the everyday family and familiarity is what you will miss the most.

By Ruby Jackson

Tags: Australia