[willsken]

As I said in a post on a previous thread, the way I judge if things are better in NZ for me and my family (cos yup, there are things I moan about here!) is to ask a simple question of myself and the rest of the family.

"If you could wake up tomorrow, in your bed in the house we lived in, in the UK. Pick up the life we had there in exactly the way it was before we moved to NZ, no money spent, would you go back?"

I don't let them say anything but a yes or no answer to this question. The reason it has to be yes or no only is because there will always be something we would change about our lives here in NZ. Be it having friends or family living over here or having a shop like ASDA on our doorstep, whatever.

I would be really interested in peoples response to this question, so a yes/no poll for you to vote.

I asked the question of all us again quite recently and I was very pleased to hear, from all of us, a resounding NO!!

[holland]

I am surprised to say 'no' for me and hubby!

[shakyle2906]

Nic


No, never in a million years would we go back!

All 3 of us love it here and would never go back, only for a holiday!

Of course, we miss family and friends, but we have survived nearly a year and dont have any regrets.

When we came out here we said we would give it a year, but within a few months, if that really, we knew that this is where we wanted to spend the rest of our lives.

We do more as a family and i think we are tighter knit as there are just the 3 of us.

We have all made some great friends, both happy in our jobs and Kyle in his school and we wouldnt change it for the world.

I remmeber when our blue stickers came, Kyle asked me what they meant - i said it means we can stay in NZ as long as we want - his reply was - thats ok mum cos i dont ever want to go back (i know he was only 5 but it meant a lot)

Hope that answers you question, a big NO, we dont ever want to go back!

Sharon
:yes

[dharder]

Yes, I would.

Aware that I would have to make some changes that had to be made in any case (at the point when we left for NZ, we were making decisions about where to move to in general, because we needed a bigger house).

I'm not 'blaming' NZ, there is nothing here that I particularly dislike (well, I grumble a lot, but actually not much more than in London), and there is no single thing that would 'make' me want to leave or make my life here impossible or unbearable. But at this point in time, if you said the plane's leaving tomorrow, I'd start packing now. I am also aware that it would not be the best decision for us as a family, so it won't happen, but the answer to that hypothetical question is for me, personally and emotionally, a very resounding 'yes'.

I'm hoping to get to the stage where I can say 'I don't mind either way', and it's early days yet, so there might be hope :)

Daniela

[willsken]

Yes, I would.

But at this point in time, if you said the plane's leaving tomorrow, I'd start packing now. I am also aware that it would not be the best decision for us as a family, so it won't happen, but the answer to that hypothetical question is for me, personally and emotionally, a very resounding 'yes'.

Daniela

Do you know, I think you must be in the most difficult place ever. Not wanting to be here but knowing it's the best thing for your family. I think there are a couple of others on this forum in your place. I have huge respect for you. :yes

[Asli&Mark]

I love being here, people here are nice :raebanana , I love my job:D , weather is a lot better than UK and it is good for our future :nice1 but it is too hard to say strictly "no". I miss my friends, my family. as we all know it is not easy.
If it was Mark writing the answer he would say NO for sure.

Although it has been a year and I should have got used to being here, but still my answer will be "I DON'T KNOW" :wah

Asli

[Potato]

Resounding, emphatic "no". I don't have plans to return for about 3 years, and that will be for a holiday, which is more to please family than me actually wanting to go back for any particular reason.

[jubjub]

Just asked DH, he said no as well, so thats two votes!

[Carol]

Do you know, I think you must be in the most difficult place ever. Not wanting to be here but knowing it's the best thing for your family. I think there are a couple of others on this forum in your place.



Yep - I would be one of them.
If there was just me..... you wouldn't see me for dust.

But there are 5 of us. So ....we stay.


Although....that said....there ARE a couple of people here who I really wouldn't want to not have in my life any more.
I thank my lucky stars every day that I was so fortunate enough to find them..... here.

[willsken]

Yep - I would be one of them.
If there was just me..... you wouldn't see me for dust.

But there are 5 of us. So ....we stay.


Although....that said....there ARE a couple of people here who I really wouldn't want to not have in my life any more.
I thank my lucky stars every day that I was so fortunate enough to find them..... here.

This just makes me feel so sad for you . :( I know you stay because you have a lovely family here but to still miss your own family in the UK so much after all this time must be soooo hard.

[Carol]

Some days are much worse than others Nicola ..... I'm in a fairly good space at the moment.
December though - is always a nightmare now.
5 birthdays and Chrimbo.
:-(

[pinkpiggy]

Well I would have to say a resounding No. Of course there are things I miss, like friends and family but they would be the only reason I would return to the UK and to be honest the ones I want to see will be coming out to visit at some point in the not too distant future.

Since we came here (10 months now) I've gone back to working full time and have stopped taking Prozac (for PMT) and am still far more relaxed than I was in the UK. I enjoy my job, for the most part and they are much more flexible about time off for appointments and the like and we get to spend more time as a family. So a definite NO from me and OH.

[Tia Maria]

I find it impossible to answer as I honestly feel I could make a good life for myself, and my family, in both places.

Cheers

Tia

[Familyofmonkeys]

Neither of us would go back to UK. We love it here and feel very comfortable with NZ, the lifestyle here etc. We didn't really see that much of our families in UK so for us nothing has really changed that much being here....I suppose that makes it a lot easier. Plus as we have small kids our daily routines of nappies/meals/bedtimes etc is just the same as it ever was, so no major adjustments to make either.....it has never felt like an extended holiday.

We might have felt different without all the modern technology though...skype, internet, e-mail etc. We have friends all over the world that we keep in touch with....and we do manage to see some of them occasionally.

That said, if we ever did get fed up with NZ (and I seriously doubt that would ever happen....but 'never say never' and all that) we wouldn't go back to UK....there are plenty of other more appealing places in the world to live instead.

[willsken]

That said, if we ever did get fed up with NZ (and I seriously doubt that would ever happen....but 'never say never' and all that) we wouldn't go back to UK....there are plenty of other more appealing places in the world to live instead.

I'd go along with that one every time!:nice1 :nice1

[Moorf]

Can you guess what I voted? :D

[ellenmelon]

i said no.

only because of how the question was posed.

i know that i probably will never live here permanently again but i think i would like to pop down here and work later on in my life for a bit when i have the resources and experience to do so.

im not quite done with NZ this time. i am, in a way, in a rush to get out but i also have to finish my degree and i need to give it a real go. i left ireland in a bit of a limbo which has meant im unsettled here and i dont want that to happen when i leave here too otherwise ill be bouncing 'round the world and it gets a bit tiring (and expensive).

i feel a bit sad now. its wierd not feeling truely at home somewhere. ( i think i'll need to go on tour when i graduate. seems my life is leading me that way!)

ah! silly late night blues! sorry guys :o

[Jo Jo]

I find it impossible to answer as I honestly feel I could make a good life for myself, and my family, in both places.

Cheers

Tia

I feel exactly the same.

[buzztalks]

Interesting that the poll is showing up the 80 / 20 rule (or Pareto Principle)???

[willsken]

Can you guess what I voted? :D

I'm sorry to hear you'd go back....... :(







:laugh :laugh

[willsken]

Interesting that the poll is showing up the 80 / 20 rule (or Pareto Principle)???

It is interesting because it seemed to follow the 80/20 proportionately over the evening! (Well, when I was looking anyway!) :yes

[thezorbster]

Having the worst week emotionally since we arrived 7 months ago and if you'd posted that question on Monday morning I'd have shouted 'yes' and hopped on the next plane, but now, later in the week I'm slightly more emotionally stable (she says, reaching for the tissues) and I know that we have done absolutely the best thing for us and we are here to stay.

[LesleyS]

I'd say 'yes' right now, but the rest of the family say 'no'....hmmm wonder how that would work then?

Guess I'd be even lonelier back home without them tho :(

[zardell]

Having the worst week emotionally since we arrived 7 months ago and if you'd posted that question on Monday morning I'd have shouted 'yes' and hopped on the next plane, but now, later in the week I'm slightly more emotionally stable (she says, reaching for the tissues)



That's a very good point Z.

It has made me wonder how many people would change their answers (or not, as the case may be) if they were asked the same question when something unsettling was happening in their lives and how that affected their feelings of security.

Maybe re-post this thread in a few weeks Nic, asking for the original voters to vote again.

The results would be interesting...

Julie

xx

[Tia Maria]

Good point zardell, the question gives a snapshot of where you are emotionally at the moment, I suppose ultimately what its asking is "do you feel you have improved your life by emigrating?".

But for some people there is always room for more improvement and for others although they might not return to their old life in their old country, they might very well be able to envisage a new life in the old country!

I always find the question 'will you be spending the rest of your life in NZ?" quite interesting. But I suspect you would have to have a 'don't know' option for that as it requires us to predict the future, rather than just assess the present and the past.

Cheers

Tia

PS Might end up voting just so it doesn't ask me every time I log on to the thread!

[Debbie]

"If you could wake up tomorrow, in your bed in the house we lived in, in the UK. Pick up the life we had there in exactly the way it was before we moved to NZ, no money spent, would you go back?"



To this fantasy question the answer would be YES in a heart beat, no doubt about it. For the rest of my family I guess the answer would be a clear NO.

But....

Life has happened and that fantasy is not possible even with all the money in the world. Neighbours have moved, family have died, friends have divorced, jobs and bosses have changed.

Life as we have it now is better in NZ than it would be if we went back to the UK.

DH is happier here than I've ever known him. The kids love life here and I truly believe that they would find it hard to adjust back to the lack of space, freedom and opportunities that a move back to the UK would mean. Not to mention that they would go back to having a weekend dad unless he happened to be on call, working extra, fixing a problem....that weekend.
The dog even seems to have a better quality of life here.

It's one of those situations where the sum of the parts doesn't match the whole situation. Everything external that is important in my life is better here. So my life is better here but, (back in fantasy land again :D ) If I was 21 and single I would have done a yr OE in NZ loved every minute of it but gone home at the end. It's not missing the UK, it's missing family that I don't think I will ever get over.

I will have to wait and see if I can sponsor my family, Sept 2009. I keep telling my self it's not long to wait.

Debbie

[Nienke]

I voted 'no'. As a few have said before, I would never go back but if necessary would move to another country. But we're happy here, I can't imagine having the same quality of life back in Holland as we have managed to get here.
The only regret is leaving my family behind, which became rather acute when my mum had to have an operation a couple of weeks before and I couldn't be there for her.:(

[granger]

I just asked by family and we're unanimous..... it's much better here and the answer is 'no'.

[wiki]

Haven't voted yet as my answer is no and OH's is yes.

But our levels of no and yesness fluctuate daily so it's a hard call.

[alan999]

A week to go to my first anniversary, still without OH and three children but I'm a no. I feel NZ has given me my life back. Back in the UK, at 50, it was over.

[shakyle2906]

A week to go to my first anniversary, still without OH and three children but I'm a no. I feel NZ has given me my life back. Back in the UK, at 50, it was over.

Thats exactly how we felt.
We are 38 and 42 and felt that life had nothing to offer us, in deadend jobs, hubby had been out of work for 3mths and my funding was ending the week i left anyway, so would have been out of a job.

Sharon

[bob_the_engineer]

LOL, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER and NEVER!

Bob loves NZ! :raebanana

For the first time in my life I’m actually proud of the country I call home, I’ve been here a few years now and I can say with all honesty that the idea of life in the UK makes me cringe!

[willsken]

LOL, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER and NEVER!

Bob loves NZ! :raebanana

For the first time in my life I’m actually proud of the country I call home, I’ve been here a few years now and I can say with all honesty that the idea of life in the UK makes me cringe!

With you on this one! We love it here to. :)

[mgbridges]

"If you could wake up tomorrow, in your bed in the house we lived in, in the UK. Pick up the life we had there in exactly the way it was before we moved to NZ, no money spent, would you go back?"!

In response to this question I'm quite surprised to find myself saying 'No' without a moments hesitation. Even after I waited a few days before voting in case it was just because I was having a particularly 'up' day emotionally when I first read the question! However, I have to admit that if the question was 'would I go back to a different scenario' the answer is 'I don't know'.

We've been here for 7 mths now so I don't really think we've been here long enough to make finite decisions. Saying that I love the fact the OH is home most nights by 6pm, that I get to collect my son from school instead of a childminders at 5.30pm, that we have a bigger house in a MUCH quieter location, that the beach is 5 mins away etc. and I'm 80% certain NZ will be home for a long time to come.

I guess its time we/I did a 7mths in post...

Anneliese

[ncalfamilyguy]

Any americans feel the same way? NZ is obviously a favorite among UK/European ex-pats, but where are the yankees? (excuse the label). Any one from across the pond try to emmigrate to US before moving to NZ? would you bother? (more expensive without the benefits i know).

still in US but getting ready.

[Jim&Karen]

Yes I would go back if that plane were leaving you wouldnt see me for dust

NZ is a fab country Christchurch has everything to offer We have made some superb friends from the forum but I crave for my old life back in the UK.its like going through a griveing process. Believe me I have tried so hard to not feel negative but I am having a lot of really hard days.

I miss the mundane boring stuff the familar day to day stuff like not having to think about what time it is before you ring for a bit of gossip. A drink in a country pub

I am working in Christchurch hospital and some of the systems here horrify me but I will not got there.

It is too big a sacrifice for me not to have regular contact with everyone. Web cam is not enough.

Jim does not feel the same and he cannot understand it see blog Anyway its still early days and I will give it my all as we have family coming in April and June and have booked to go home for christmas. The reason for that is we have a new grandaughter born 3rd march sister to 1st grandaughter and i couldnot bear the tought of just the 2 of us at christmas Carnt write any more begining to waffle

Karen

[LesleyS]

Yes I would go back if that plane were leaving you wouldnt see me for dust

NZ is a fab country Christchurch has everything to offer We have made some superb friends from the forum but I crave for my old life back in the UK.its like going through a griveing process. Believe me I have tried so hard to not feel negative but I am having a lot of really hard days.

I miss the mundane boring stuff the familar day to day stuff like not having to think about what time it is before you ring for a bit of gossip. A drink in a country pub

Karen

Funny....I feel exactly the same way Karen, you're definitely not on your own! :no

[Brijan]

I voted NO
My work here is great, i actually enjoy going to work again and thats something i thought was history!
OH would have said yes for the first 2 years probably but now has a job she enjoy's and is more settled.
the real downside for us is our son (22 yo ) being in the uk but he's coming out for a holiday soon (next week :raebanana ) with some very good friends who we have missed.
I have been back twice since we emigrated for differant reasons and could'nt wait to get back on the plane to NZ

[Carol]

Have given myself a week to think about this..... before I voted.
And - I'm still in the same place.
Kids are here....so I have to stay. I dont choose to stay.
So still haven't voted. I'm a conscientious objector! lol


I'm the exact opposite to Brian. Every time I have been back to the UK - I cried and cried on the plane - at the thought of coming back here..... last time was last April - and I'm thinking about it again already!
If only money wasn't an issue.....

[peebles16]

I don't think it would be helpful for me to vote just now as we've only been here 2 months - some days it would be emphatic yes and other an absolute no...Practically when I look at it NZ is all we've wanted and the kids love it... It's plain and simple for me I miss my friends, family and the familiarity of our life back in the UK - these are things I don't have here yet. That said I'm working on all of this and in time will at least have friends and familiarity when the family follow us over is up to them :)

Must remember to search out this thread in months to come when I feel able to make a useful contribution :)

Thanks for posting it though Nicola has made me think..

Karenx

[Trigirl]

i don't post here very often these days but this thread caught my eye (partly as it was started by willsken who we moved almost the same week as!)

16 months in i can safely say neither of us would ever choose to go back. we're emphatic no's. there is nothing the UK could offer us that would tempt us. we live with the understanding that one day we may have to go back (OH has a seriously mentally handicapped brother who we may one day become responsible for and who is never ever going to pass the NZ medical requirements) but the mere thought makes me feel physically sick. however, we will do what we have to do if/when it happens. but given the choice i'd be here for life.

as far as the question above about trying out the US first - LOL!!! i won't even fly through it given the option!

[willsken]

Hey Trigirl, it's really good to see you back on, even briefly. I am so pleased the move seems to have worked out for you both and that you're happy. All you can wish for really, isn't it? :yes :D

[veronica]

have lived to long and seen too many variables to answer that question., life has a way of throwing curveballs. the question is to black and white for me.

best I can say is that for the moment it suits both Pete and I to be here and when I got off of the plane a few weeks ago it felt like I was coming home.

[Trigirl]

i just popped in to see how a few people were getting on (you, carol, smiler, morph etc).

happiness is indeed all you can wish for. i consider myself lucky on a daily basis :) its great to see you getting on so well too.

[willsken]

have lived to long and seen too many variables to answer that question., life has a way of throwing curveballs. the question is to black and white for me.

best I can say is that for the moment it suits both Pete and I to be here and when I got off of the plane a few weeks ago it felt like I was coming home.

When I ask this question of my family, I'm only talking of there here and now. I don't expect them to know how they will feel a year down the line. As you say that is impossible to know. :)

[Silverwing86]

LOL, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER and NEVER!

Bob loves NZ!

For the first time in my life I’m actually proud of the country I call home, I’ve been here a few years now and I can say with all honesty that the idea of life in the UK makes me cringe!

Sooooooooooooo agree with this Bob, exactly how we feel !

Especially the bit about being proud of the country we call home, sorry to say I never felt that about Holland. Is that terribly bad :o ?? Mind you, I didn't grow up there and definitely didn't want to go back when we did (I was 14 then and by that time had spent 11 years in Asia)...

NZ is definitely home for us. in fact, we feel 100% more at home here than we ever did in Holland. This overwhelming emotional (irrational perhaps ?) sense of complete belonging in/with NZ is something we still marvel at and appreciate every single day ! At this point in time even going to Holland just for a holiday is totally unappealing, no thanx !

And this stated at a time when the future is very uncertain for us as the job OH brought with him will be ending rather unexpectedly next month and nothing new on the horizon as yet. So as of the end of April, no income on his side coming in :eek: (mine nowhere near enough to pay the mortgage, let alone all the other costs) and added to that potentially a worrying health issue looming for me (desperately hoping it'll turn out to be a storm in a teacup :uhoh). Even so, although this is not the best of times for us (understatement !), in no way has this changed how we feel about NZ and we have no desire whatsoever to leave.

As others have stated, no-one can predict the future, but if we were ever to move on (can't believe we would, but again, one never knows what the future holds), I'd say it's highly unlikely we'd go back to Holland.

I guess it's a no-brainer :p, we voted a resounding "NO" !

Silver

[JandM]

So as of the end of April, no income on his side coming in (mine nowhere near enough to pay the mortgage, let alone all the other costs) and added to that potentially a worrying health issue looming for me (desperately hoping it'll turn out to be a storm in a teacup ).All good wishes for these issues working themselves out all right, and soon.

[dusk]

seconded, JandM

[willsken]

Sooooooooooooo agree with this Bob, exactly how we feel !

Especially the bit about being proud of the country we call home, sorry to say I never felt that about Holland. Is that terribly bad :o ?? Mind you, I didn't grow up there and definitely didn't want to go back when we did (I was 14 then and by that time had spent 11 years in Asia)...

NZ is definitely home for us. in fact, we feel 100% more at home here than we ever did in Holland. This overwhelming emotional (irrational perhaps ?) sense of complete belonging in/with NZ is something we still marvel at and appreciate every single day ! At this point in time even going to Holland just for a holiday is totally unappealing, no thanx !

And this stated at a time when the future is very uncertain for us as the job OH brought with him will be ending rather unexpectedly next month and nothing new on the horizon as yet. So as of the end of April, no income on his side coming in :eek: (mine nowhere near enough to pay the mortgage, let alone all the other costs) and added to that potentially a worrying health issue looming for me (desperately hoping it'll turn out to be a storm in a teacup :uhoh). Even so, although this is not the best of times for us (understatement !), in no way has this changed how we feel about NZ and we have no desire whatsoever to leave.

As others have stated, no-one can predict the future, but if we were ever to move on (can't believe we would, but again, one never knows what the future holds), I'd say it's highly unlikely we'd go back to Holland.

I guess it's a no-brainer, we voted a resounding "NO" !

Silver

Hi Silver

I'm so sorry to hear things are stressful for you at the moment. I'll keep everything crossed for you personally and also that your OH finds a new job soon. I've always followed you posts with interest, as you always seem to put how I feel living here in to words. Best of luck. :yes

[zardell]

All good wishes for these issues working themselves out all right, and soon.


From me too.

Julie

xx

[shakyle2906]

Sooooooooooooo agree with this Bob, exactly how we feel !

Especially the bit about being proud of the country we call home, sorry to say I never felt that about Holland. Is that terribly bad :o ?? Mind you, I didn't grow up there and definitely didn't want to go back when we did (I was 14 then and by that time had spent 11 years in Asia)...

NZ is definitely home for us. in fact, we feel 100% more at home here than we ever did in Holland. This overwhelming emotional (irrational perhaps ?) sense of complete belonging in/with NZ is something we still marvel at and appreciate every single day ! At this point in time even going to Holland just for a holiday is totally unappealing, no thanx !

And this stated at a time when the future is very uncertain for us as the job OH brought with him will be ending rather unexpectedly next month and nothing new on the horizon as yet. So as of the end of April, no income on his side coming in :eek: (mine nowhere near enough to pay the mortgage, let alone all the other costs) and added to that potentially a worrying health issue looming for me (desperately hoping it'll turn out to be a storm in a teacup :uhoh). Even so, although this is not the best of times for us (understatement !), in no way has this changed how we feel about NZ and we have no desire whatsoever to leave.

As others have stated, no-one can predict the future, but if we were ever to move on (can't believe we would, but again, one never knows what the future holds), I'd say it's highly unlikely we'd go back to Holland.

I guess it's a no-brainer :p, we voted a resounding "NO" !

Silver



hope things work out for you on the job front soon!
fingers crossed for you..........

Sharon
x

[Silverwing86]

My sincere thanks to all of you for your warm well wishes and kind words, extremely heartwarming and very much appreciated :yes !

I'll let you know our good news (not sickeningly optimistic or anything :D !) on both the health and job fronts when it comes through...

Once again, your support is highly appreciated, makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I love this forum and the people on it, YOU ALL ROCK :clap :clap !

Cheers,
Silver

[willsken]

Well, I think this poll has run it's course and I just wanted to thank all those who voted. I have to say the results don't really surprise me, in that I know a lot of others in our town who emigrated to NZ and don't know of any that want to go back. I suppose the only surprise was to see how many people on the forum who would stay. Goes to show really that even though people make comments about problems they experience in NZ, they are just being honest that life isn't perfect here and not that NZ is all bad! :D

[Moorf]

:( I can't give you rep for this thread, so here's an I.O.U :D

[incredible hulse]

Well, I think this poll has run it's course and I just wanted to thank all those who voted. I have to say the results don't really surprise me, in that I know a lot of others in our town who emigrated to NZ and don't know of any that want to go back. I suppose the only surprise was to see how many people on the forum who would stay. Goes to show really that even though people make comments about problems they experience in NZ, they are just being honest that life isn't perfect here and not that NZ is all bad! :D
Yes interesting poll. Would be interesting to compare the results against one which would ask if you could go elsewhere (not specifically your previous country) than NZ if money was not a factor. At the end of the day people have moved here for a reason and I guess a lot would include dissatisfaction with their homeland as being a motive. I would also guess a fair few wouldn't want to be seen to be chucking it in by going back.

My answer was yes but with a caveat of not just yet. I've only been here just over 2 years so am still in tourist mode but I know now that I couldn't live in NZ for the rest of my working life

[Kim39]

I voted a week ago but didn't post any of my thoughts as i really don't know where i want to be. Things aren't that bad i suppose here, and vice versa for the UK. They both have positives and negatives. Due to there being four of us in the family i am out voted on the return, so its a case of knuckling down and moving forward, but at a snails pace for me. To return would be for all the wrong reasons. I suppose i have to look to the future, and the fact that we are building will hopefully that will settle me down. I do have my interests, and my love of footie has secured me a paid position coaching youth players, something which wouldn't happen back home unless i was involved at a higher level, so there's a positive. Forget the negatives or i'll become suicidal:D

A friend (childhood) of mine who has been here 6 months longer than us feels that the reasons the male fail to settle is most commonly down to the employment side of things. This is something which i have to agree with.

Lets see where we are in 6 months as we'll have been in the house for 4 months and maybe that will have a bearing on my thoughts.

Kim

[willsken]

Yes interesting poll. Would be interesting to compare the results against one which would ask if you could go elsewhere (not specifically your previous country) than NZ if money was not a factor.


I'm pretty sure most people would have voted yes if they wanted to leave NZ, even if it wouldn't have been their choice to return home.... at least I would have! I also noticed a few people posting that they hadn't voted due to not fitting either answer. At the end of the day it wasn't compulsory to vote! :p

I'm going to go along with the spirit in which this poll was intended... unless there is someone out there who voted no and fits the above quote? :D

I would also guess a fair few wouldn't want to be seen to be chucking it in by going back.

I think most people would feel able to be honest, in an anonymous poll on an emigration forum! :yes

My answer was yes but with a caveat of not just yet.

So did you actually vote yes, even though it was not just yet so you didn't quite fit the question? ;)

[willsken]

:( I can't give you rep for this thread, so here's an I.O.U :D

:D :D Ta!!

[incredible hulse]

I'm pretty sure most people would have voted yes if they wanted to leave NZ, even if it wouldn't have been their choice to return home.... at least I would have! I also noticed a few people posting that they hadn't voted due to not fitting either answer. At the end of the day it wasn't compulsory to vote! :p



Maybe so, but just a comment ....
I would personally expect a higher % of yes if the offer had been a free migration to Oz. Certainly seems to be the case for a large proportion of the kiwi population :exit
And yes I did vote yes

[willsken]

Maybe so, but just a comment ....
I would personally expect a higher % of yes if the offer had been a free migration to Oz. Certainly seems to be the case for a large proportion of the kiwi population :exit
And yes I did vote yes

I do see where you're coming from, but I would never want to move to OZ (haven't been there yet, so time to change my mind!:D ) and am perfectly happy here in NZ. Maybe, coming from the UK here to NZ, people find what they want and don't think about moving on. Kiwis dissatisfied need to go somewhere and OZ is an easy answer? :)

I just know so many ex pat UK people here, that I don't find the result that surprising. :nice1