Written By:
Anthony R0bins - Date published:
10:25 am, July 8th, 2012 - 29 comments
Categories: im/migration, john key, national, Satire -
Tags: austrailia, exodus, wave goodbye
With news that there are now more Kiwis living in Australia than either Christchurch or Wellington, here’s “John Key’s” latest press release on the topic:
Latest exodus to Australia worrying
National Party Leader John Key says immigration figures showing an acceleration in the number of Kiwis leaving to live in Australia are a wake-up call for the Government.
“These numbers are further evidence of the failure of the National-led Government to address the core issues of why Kiwis are leaving.
“They are a vote of no confidence in my Government.
“There is no other way to describe figures that show nearly 40,000 Kiwis left for Australia last year – an increase of 19,000 over 2006, and the highest net loss in 25 years.
“They highlight the fact that we need to make meaningful changes if we are to encourage tens of thousands of people to stay here.
“Our economy cannot afford to lose them.
“Kiwis are tired of waiting for wage increases and improvements in their basic living conditions. That’s why record numbers of them are voting with their feet.
“New Zealand is already struggling under a skills shortage and this exodus will add to those worries.
“National has not taken advantage of the sound financial position it inherited, failing to transform the economy to a level where many of these people want to stay.”
The current rise of populism challenges the way we think about people’s relationship to the economy.We seem to be entering an era of populism, in which leadership in a democracy is based on preferences of the population which do not seem entirely rational nor serving their longer interests. ...
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The real National spin on this would be that the NZ education system is good at turning out workers for overseas markets and what should be done is that the NZ education system should be privatised to take full advantage of the synergy between education and emigrant workers.
Like Vanuatu and Ireland, New Zealand will benefit from the remittances home from New Zealanders working overseas who were so well educated here.
You don’t believe such spin?
Look at the National spin on the housing situation in Christchurch. The high demand, high cost and low provision of housing is a positive sign, Gerry Brownlee says. “It was “incredibly encouraging” to see demand rise in the inner suburbs and the average rent rise of 26 per cent would not “flick Christchurch rents out of kilter with the rest of the country”, he said.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/7237398/Brownlee-Rising-housing-demand-positive-for-citys-future
Unbelievable.
Couldn’t agree more mac1 with your comment on Brownlee’s outrageous idea that increased housing costs is positive.
What planet does he live on?
I would have thought decresaing housing costs would be a positive (and on this – see The Press tomorrow).
Positive for the National Party’s clients. No-one else gets a second thought.
The man is a cock.
Says a bit about our education system too that we are in such great demand over there. But hey, why ruin a good distraction.
I presume this is a take-off of Key, very hard to believe that he would actually make these concessions. When Key truly does begin to implement “serious changes” (for the better, rather than the usual worse), we might catch a small glimpse of hope for the lower 40% of New Zealanders.
The real press release tries to blame Helen Clark’s government for the situation. You would think after four years in power Key would start to own up to the job.
Or maybe everyone will accept that it’s impossible to stem the flow of people towards bigger and brighter. Small towns keep losing people to large towns, to cityies and to larger cities. That’s why Auckland has grown so much.
And it’s natural for that flow to be westward, from this end of the country it’s as easy to go to Brisbane, sydney and Melbourne as it is to Auckland.
Rather than fight a battle that can never be won why not accept it and look for advantages. All three of my children have gone west or further. Both my daughters paid back substantial student loans within three years, that’s foreign funds coming into the country. They come back for holidays, one came back to get married last year, that’s good for the local economy.
Moving to Australia and heading off on OE is more Kiwi now than number eight wire.
That it is perhaps inevitable that we lose our best and most energetic of our young to the big cities or overseas is one thing and to accept that and look for advantage in it is another thing- but I do not accept that it is necessarily a good thing, or to be accepted without looking at the reasons why this exodus takes place.
Why is Godzone no longer the place to live for our young? Natural curiosity and the adventuring spirit or as my ancestors from England, Scotland and Ireland found, an opportunity away from want, no work, no land and no chances from a fossilised educational, social and religious system in an unfair society?
Why is New Zealand becoming an increasingly unfair society?
The numbers moving away are increasing. More are staying away permanently. Is this healthy for our society?
Pete George, what I wrote at 1 above was my version of how National would spin this- New Zealand as remittance land and I would add a relatively safe and clean home away from the world’s strife for the world’s wealthy to be pampered by the underclass who couldn’t get away.
You seem to have bought my satire as something more………….
Good post.
Is it? What do you call fairness?
Life isn’t ‘fair’, it never has been.
There are fluctuations in economies and social conditions, but in general the society of New Zealand right now has never had it so good. The standard of living, health care and potentiaol quality of life has never been better. Even the crime rate seems to be improving.
Sure there are problems and inequalities, and we have to do what we can to address them – but that can mean being less ‘fair’ to some and gicing some of that ‘fairness’ to others, only some of whom will ‘deserve’ it.
But if we keep talking down the qualities that we have we may start to believe our own opessism, and live that pessismism.
It’s not whether it’s ‘healthy’ or not, it’s a fact. It wouldn’t be healthy to force people to stay here so we have to let them go if that’s what they choose – and we have to deal with it the best we can.
Maybe if we weren’t so pessimistic and didn’t trash or ignore the goodness we do have here then less people might believe it would be better going elsewhere.
What is unfair?
Read my post. Hint……. “want, no work, no land and no chances from a fossilised educational, social and religious system.”
What is unfair?
That which which is unjust, immoral, unethical, greedy, self-seeking, exploitative, conning, dishonest.
That which contravenes the commandment which enjoins us to love our neighbours.
That which contravenes the spirit of the Sermon on the Mount.
That which James K Baxter wrote about especially in his prophetic years.
That which says that some may prosper and profit whilst others grow sick and die.
Sort of along those lines, PG…………………….
And of course why not blame the poor and the halt and the lame for being that?
Why not curse the beneficiaries for their lack of positive life choices?
Why not blame me for saying that Godzone ain’t what the rich and powerful and fortunate would hoodwink us into thinking as it is for them so it is for us?
PG, do you honestly believe that you are believable when you say “Maybe if we weren’t so pessimistic and didn’t trash or ignore the goodness we do have here then less people might believe it would be better going elsewhere” and not acknowledge that people can’t work out for themselves when they are poor, lacking opportunities, and that life is unfair in GodZone?
Listen to yourself, man!
Shit pete – people are leaving not because of unemloyment, a sluggish economy or growing poverty. Just because some people say these things are bad?
Your national (sorry, Uf) propaganda is becoming more bizarre by the day.
I didn’t say “just because some people say these things are bad” There are a range of reasons why people leave New Zealand, temporarily or permanently, and there will often be a mix in any decision.
Pervasive pessimism, New Zealand bashing, widespread talking down of prospects here and talking up prospects in Australia are likely to be factors in some decisions.
Interesting spin, Pete. So on your planet, the “pervasive pessimism” is down to making the figures public. If we only publish the positive stats, everything would be fine. Interesting. I hear they do this in Syria, and its worked for them up until recently.
Basic bollocks, Pete. You take some small percentage that could be in some people’s thinking (note your own qualifiers “often,” “likely” and “some”)and make it a major component. What say you to the assertion that the main reasons that people emigrate away from GodZone are around lack of work here, lack of opportunities and poor pay/better wages overseas? These are factors that any person with the wit to make changes can discover for themselves.
In my life, before I make changes, I find myself dissatisfied and needing to change. Then I make a move. I am still here in NZ. I have a sufficiency of work and a place to live. However, more Kiwis than ever are making the move away.
John Key heavily criticised the last Labour Government for a similar situation in 2008, though when numbers leaving were considerably less. The situation has become worse.
Fair comment?
oh shut up pathetic pete!
Except Key made a big deal of changing this – remember him sitting at Westpac Stadium?
Ooohh, that ambitious con … and the webpage for that DVD on national’s webpage is gone?
http://www.national.org.nz/ambitious.aspx
That is the link from the press release (Tuesday, 27 November 2007, 5:13 pm) that can be viewed at (thank goodness for the info on a website other than any kind of fast disappearing national.org.nz webpage):
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0711/S00545.htm
Clip said …
JOHN KEY: We’re here today at Westpac Stadium. It holds nearly 35,000 people, and believe it or not, the equivalent of this entire stadium – and more – leaves every year to permanently live in Australia. They leave in part because the wages and conditions are better in other countries, and I’m convinced we can do a lot better than that. I’m convinced we can give them a reason and a purpose to stay in New Zealand, and that’s why I want to be New Zealand’s next prime minister.
(Source: John Key, Ambitious for New Zealand – Meet John Key DVD, 27 November 2007)
Found this:
http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?articleId=11510
“The DVD can be downloaded and watched here. [As of 31 January 2007, the DVD is no longer available for viewing.]”
Huh? “As of 31 January 2007”? But the press release was dated “27 November 2007”!
Even the integrity of the calendar can no longer be relied upon after being played by an ex-currency trader?
(I have pdf-ed that webpage in case that gets taken down.)
Mickey, the linked press release is dated 4th Feb 2008?
ROB has replaced Labour with Nation to be more current!!!
Oops, right you are. I obviously do need that second coffee …
I did enjoy the post.
It is all going according to plan.
Nothing wrong with it in the eyes of “Keysian Economics”.
Shrink the population and in “sound” consequence: Reduce costs.
The savings under this government will accellerate with the level of outflow, hence all budget targets look more likely to be met.
The new, second tier benefit reforms, putting on the thumb screws and sick and invalids will see to the rest of the multi staged policy plan to be achieved.
Even sick and disabled will use their last benefit payments for a one way ticket to Aus, thus resulting in even more astonishing savings in the expensive welfare budget.
In their anticipated, highly “ambitious” 3rd term, the final solution will be presented to the remaining NZ voters: Get a huge tax bonus for sending your parents due to go into retirement off to the Gold Coast, on government subsidised one way airline tickets.
Make sure there will be NO return possible, so that the bills for future health and welfare expenses for them will be covered by the “Lucky Country”.
In the meantime the asset stripping and farm sales will be escalated, inviting only rich investors in, to take over with their own bonded serfs to till the grounds, tend the landscape and milk the fat cows giving milk for the babies of Corporate elites and their select few staffs in the societies of NZ’s trading partners.
Hone Key will go in his well-deserved private retirement estate on Hawaii, rubbing his hands in glee. His kids will be given a golden plated highway for ensured personal success and security, feathered with neat investment assets all over the global prime real estate markets.
“Kiss yer own bumbs, mateys”, I’ve got it all sorted, Hone Key will say.
Anthony, what is Labour’s plan to reverse this exodus?
Hey Jenny, what WAS /IS Nationals plan?
Jenny –
A good question Angel.
I think tax cuts to the very rich, and a higher level of GST would be a way of fixing it all. Don’t you?
A heavy reduction in available jobs, would also assist.
The problem is obvious enough. National promised to increase wages. Once elected EVERY policy setting to do with employment was directed at reducing wages and working conditions.
In short: they lied.
The average kiwi punter still hasn’t really caught on to it…..which tends to reflect very badly on the intellectual firepower of the average Kiwi punter.
Those who have caught onto it don’t appear to have time for the slow-pokes to wake up to the fact they were conned…and they are leaving rather than wait for them to catch up.