[Avalon]

According to the Dom Post a few weekends ago:

80% of taxpayers earn less than 40K
Less than 2% earn over 100K

[Moorf]

I find those figures astonishing! Having said that, I've only ever seen NZ since the house prices skyrocketed. Perhaps if the prices were as they were even 5 yrs ago those salaries wouldn't have looked so low? Or have salaries shot up too?

[clg]

As to th Dom post article, I would belive that but keep in mind that of those 80% a large portion may be only working part time or not working at all but still registering income from something like interest souces. My 3 year old daugher will be a taxpayer if she has an account open and earns any interest.

One clarification to what I posted above, the average NZ hourly rate I posted is for full time workers, part time averages are lower. Lots more info below though if you are intersted.

Salaries here have been increasing at a fairly highly rate (above OECD average) the link below cites average weekly wage and salary income for those in paid employment was up 7.6 percent from the June 2004 quarter for the June 2005 quarter.

Here is a lot of detailed info on income it is a little old though: http://www2.stats.govt.nz/domino/external/pasfull/pasfull.nsf/web/Hot+Off+The+Press+New+Zealand+Income+Survey+June+2 005+quarter?open

The higher hourly rate I cited above is more recent but the full release will not be available for a while yet the partial release is availabe under the Dec 2005 update.

[clg]

One more thing, on higher incomes (100k+) people do a lot to hide income from taxes particualry among self employed.

Let me be clear, people do earn less here than in the states (and I assume the UK) I am just trying to put out some figures.

We earn less here than in the US and we can't have a US style lifestyle like we were used to but we can still get by at a level that we are comfortable with. That comfort issue is what people have to figure out for themselves since it is different for everyone.

[Annierobrigado]

hi jason

i have just finished reading this thread - wow a long one - but if you'd permit me to suggest something, i'd like you to turn your sights on my own country - the Philippines. have you been here? it's a third world country by us and uk standards, and many filipinos live below the poverty line, but some americans/europeans/british/australians and kiwis have chosen to stay here and made it their home. manila, cebu, bacolod, davao, subic, they can offer you the lifestyle (or at least a semblance of it) that you were used to in southern california. here where i come from, the newest urban lifestyle is found south of manila, in alabang, with the ambience of the city and the calming effects of the country. you won't lack for donuts there; dunkin', gonuts donuts, krispy kremes, mister donut; you like pastries? delifrance, bread talk, etc (there's so many, i forgot them all); how about coffee? gloria jeans, seattle's best, starbucks, the coffee bean and tea leaf, figaro, san francisco, etc; fast food/family resto? mcdonalds, kfc, burger king, wendys, pizza hut, california pizza kitchen, tony romas, cafe breton, outback, sbarro, thank god it's friday, mocha blends, etc - oh dear, don't let me go on i'm getting hungry! but you know what i mean.

malls and shops close at 10 pm; cinemas and some supermarkets close at 12 midnight. hotels and condotels (serviced apartments) abound, 3 - 6 bedroom houses are for sale or rent, you can hire maids for less than USD100 a month. Personal drivers USD100/month, can take you anywhere - makati or manila, ortigas or quezon city, or if you wish, take a weekend and go scuba diving in batangas or whale watching in sorsogon, or take a breather from the heat and cool off in tagaytay or baguio city. want to play golf? golf courses are everywhere, maybe 1 hour's drive. in alabang there's a golf course already.

you'll find familiar names around - levi's, prada, salvatore ferragamo, marithe francois et girbaud, dkny, guess, lee, carolina herrera, calvin klein, oscar dela renta, nine west, marks and spencer, etc. i mean, familiar, yes? although the others (especially the highest end names) are rare (who can afford them here? only about 5% of the population). but if you live here, i suggest you buy filipino. there are many good quality brands that are available for $10 or less, and you boost the country's economy.

so if you're not sold on nz because you're looking for something more familiar to LA, then come visit us here in manila. a thousand dollars will go a very very very long way here, with change to spare. ;D

by the way, what field are you in? how about your fiancee?

Good luck to you.

annie

[Al_S]

Annie, What a cool note . :) Salamat as they say over there!!

Al

[Annierobrigado]

hi al s

thanks! where are you from? how do you know salamat?

annie

[Al_S]

Hello Annie,
I am Canadian and live in Toronto. I once had this great programmer on my team who happened to be from Manila. I learnt a few things from him, that's all.
Good luck with your plans, we are still considering it (actually have a tentative offer in NZ now) but it is a BIG move and a very HUGE decision. Just need time to reflect and make sure this is right for us.
Mabuting kapalaran,
Al

[Annierobrigado]

well, good luck al! hope you'll find your "mabuting kapalaran" in nz! so do we!

may i ask where your programmer is now?

annie