Comments on: A good reason to head to New Zealand

By: Reality Checker

Reality Checker — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 23:15:13 +0000

As a Native American, I suggest Jmccraw1 go back to wherever he came from. This country was GREAT before he and his “real Americans” arrived here, stole land, polluted, and killed off people and wildlife. He is–and always has been –the poverty, disease, crime, drugs and murder he complains about. Further, his “America” would not be diverse had his ancestors not been too lazy to do their own work. But no-o-o, his people enslaved people, starting with the indigenous population, then tens of millions of Africans, and more lately new immigrants. He should take a look at the poster children for “real Americans” like building contractors, factory owners and mega-farmers who hire illegals instead of him so they can increase their personal profits. And yeah, how about the other “real Americans” the likes of Meg Whitman who pay use illegal immigrants. Get real dude. You “Americans” are the problem. Stop blaming everything on everyone else.

By: pr_kiwi

pr_kiwi — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 20:38:34 +0000

Maybe if you had gone to Auckland, you'd see its as ethnically diverse as many other large urban areas. If Police showed up at your door, chances are you did something to bring them there.

“Too white”? Whatever, mate.

By: Jagver_brand44

Jagver_brand44 — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 23:02:18 +0000

NZ is too white, im an indian-american and did visit the south island for vacation

was visited in my hotel room by local police, who “just wanted to make sure i wasnt a bad guy”

By: San Diego County Citizen

San Diego County Citizen — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 02:29:38 +0000

Too bad about the gun banning government.. NZ might be a good choice if it wasn't for that!

By: Jmccraw1

Jmccraw1 — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 22:46:25 +0000

Why in the world would NZ want to bog down it's country with any and everyone the way America has? We embraced the same kind of 'come one,come all' policies and look what we have become.We are an endless pit of people and Government that is destroying this country,and our American way of life.Washington continues to send citizens on a guilt trip when illegals are not welcomed here.We have mistakenly placed a “leader” in the Whitehouse that crushes the American people down,while lifting up his own agendas!This once great country is fastly being consumed with illegals and the burdens they bring with them.Entitlement programs and hospital costs are strained to the bursting point! We have allowed our elected officials to turn this country into a melting pot of poverty,disease,crime,drugs and murder! Why oh why,would NZ want this for their country?

By: Robynn1351

Robynn1351 — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 16:51:30 +0000

NZ is a great launching place to migrate to. Once you get admitted there you only have to stay for a few years (I think 3 or 4) and then you can legally just walk into Australia and live there for as long as you like!!!!!!

If NZ is so good why are so many of them living here in OZ?

Think carefully before you decide to go to NZ. Pretty place I agree but not really the nirvana you may be looking for

By: Tony

Tony — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 04:37:01 +0000

Mark, be cautious about using the phrase "Third World." We get it, you love New Zealand and it is a great place. But may more people call many other places home. The correct definition of "Third World"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_world

By: CMS

CMS — Wed, 26 May 2010 22:30:09 +0000

If you are talking about the fees, here's the link to the NZ Department of Internal Affairs:

http://www.dia.govt.nz/diawebsite.nsf/wpg_URL/S...

However, unless you are a special case, ie an investor with NZD$1-2 million to spare, you will first have to send NZIS an expression of interest, then apply for permanent residence, then establish permanent residence in NZ (be physically present in NZ for 5 years), then apply for citizenship and take the oath of allegiance. Only then can you apply for a NZ passport. The forms, fees and supporting documentation cost me about NZD2,000. Remember that I started the process in 2003 when everything was easier and less expensive.

By: CMS

CMS — Wed, 26 May 2010 07:49:43 +0000

I migrated to New Zealand (my "back-up" country) from the Philippines in 2003, without any expert advice. I simply went to the NZ Immigration website www.immigration.govt.nz -- read that and the related links thoroughly; it's all pretty straightforward information and it's FREE. I put my application together in 3 months, was granted permanent residency in 7 months, became eligible for citizenship in 3 years and, after waiting 11 months because of the processing backlog, obtained NZ citizenship in 2007. Alas, nothing gets easier over time. In 2005, because of the greatly increased number of migrant applications, the NZ government tightened immigration requirements. You can still read all about it on the NZIS website and then decide. For what's happening in New Zealand, read www.nzherald.co.nz

In 2003 when I first arrived in NZ, the exchange rate was USD 0.56 to NZD1.00; when I left early this year, the exchange rate was USD0.71 to NZD1.00.

I have citizenship in the Philippines and in NZ, permanent residence in the US, and together with my husband, am looking at acquiring residency in one of the Southern Cone countries (that would be 4 countries, in 4 continents, in 2 hemispheres so far).

CMS

By: michael

michael — Wed, 26 May 2010 06:54:40 +0000

I would like to purchase the book with a consideration prior to purchase. How much will the second passport cost?
I hope asking this question in advance of the purchase is ok. It will allow me to determine whether it will even be relevant for my situation.

thanks,
Michael

By: Chris

Chris — Sat, 22 May 2010 01:44:06 +0000

Regarding capital gains in NZ:

Short-term trading profits are taxed as ordinary income because they are not considered “capital gains”. Long-term capital gains are not taxed.
So if you sell shares after a month, it’s a trading profit and gets taxed. If you sell shares after a year, it’s a capital gain…which does NOT get taxed at all.

However, 2 years back NZ introduced a kind of wealth tax…the increase in the value of your portfolio gets taxed even if you don’t sell But this is capped at 5%, that is, gains of up to 5% are included in your taxable income. In practice this means a tax of up to 1.6% of your portfolio might be applied each year ( if your portfolio rises by 5%). Similar to the Dutch tax on deemed earned income.

This has been widely condemned…there’s a good chance they will scrap this in the next few years.

Personally I wouldn’t go to NZ at the moment but I would keep an eye on it and see if they scrap the deemed income tax.

By: John Stub

John Stub — Thu, 20 May 2010 17:03:55 +0000

Can you, or your friend Mark, explain a limited publication of 1,000 copies of an ebook? That just pushed my “caution” button.

By: Bob Hays

Bob Hays — Thu, 20 May 2010 16:40:05 +0000

I haven’t read Mark’s book. But since it’s been my primary home since 1999 when my wife and I immigrated from the US, I think I do have a basis for commenting on his summary. I cannot disagree with the points made, but should point out that NZ has a very weak military, and could be easily taken by any surprise invader. Now who might want to take over a rich land with lots of water, food and natural resources? To assume there is no one, you have to forget history, I think.

More important to me is the egalitarian philosophy of the people, which is firmly ingrained in the vast majority. NZ is a socialistic state, and the people like it that way. What follows from that include the following: Accomplishments, other than in sport, are the target of a generally held envy bias. (We call it the tall poppy syndrome—pride commeth before you get chopped down). Political correctness is not only overwhelmingly dominant, it’s supported by a host of laws. Don’t even think about giving your kid a slap, let alone saying anything anyone might take offense to (so long as they’re not adult white males or Christians). Right now, the puritans are gaining ascendancy again. While tobacco and alcohol are not banned, the taxes and regulation are climbing quickly. Aimed, of course, at the producers, not the users of these “sinful” substances (except curiously for driver). Yes, there’s been a shift politically from the centre left to what is called the centre right. But most middle of the road Democrats would consider the current crop as true brothers, and far to the left of the right wing of the Republican party. Libertarians are a non-factor in politics these days. There’s a sizable national debt (more private than public), property speculation and unfunded (and unfundable) promises for future social welfare spending, with no hint of how to deal with it. The economy is now heavily dependent on sectors very vulnerable to downturns in the rich economies or increases in fuel prices. Finally, there is a rapidly growing social underclass, complicated by historical grievances turned now into a significant industry for extracting reparations from the general taxpayers.

So go, take a look. NZ really is a beautiful place with lots of very nice people and many positives. But don’t blind yourself by seeing what you want to be true. FWIW, while I have no intention of bailing out of NZ, and became a citizen just a year ago, I’ve got a second flag now and am establishing a third.

Bob “in NZ”, currently in New Mexico, and soon off to Panama again.

By: Bruce

Bruce — Thu, 20 May 2010 16:38:36 +0000

A wonderful place to consider for relocation however one of the many strengths listed is for me its greatest weakness. Geographic isolation. I may have many strong opinions on why I wish to “diversify” my living arrangements across global regions but my family does not. So to be on the underside of the Earth subject to visiting with my children only when we can afford it in both money and time is a serious impediment to me. Life without reasonable access to family isn’t really living in my world.

By: sdca

sdca — Thu, 20 May 2010 16:30:50 +0000

I also think NZ may just be a good choice, b/c, well, it’s a nice place to live.
Or are we only making decisions out of fear-based reactions these days?

There is something to be said for focusing on what lifestyle one wants, that is not in opposition to something else, or another lifestyle, but, rather, is simply in and of itself, right for someone.

We can only see trends; we cannot really predict. Unless, of course, we are Warren Buffet and have insider knowledge of those pulling the strings, who do in fact predict b/c they are creating the scenarios that we will experience.

Less chicken little, more common sense.
Chicken Little is part of why the masses will handle this situation so poorly. As adults, we need to deal and make decisions, not panic and react.

NZ has alot going for it, not as a fall-out option, but as a healthy nation w/a high quality of life.

By: Greg

Greg — Thu, 20 May 2010 16:16:41 +0000

How does NZ tax capital gains? In the US, short-term gains (something held for less than a year) are taxed federally as income, whereas long-term gains are taxed at 15% (increasing to 20% next year). In Canada, you divide your gains in half, and that amount is taxed as income (typically, a marginal rate around 21%). Last time I checked, Australia was the same as Canada, but NZ taxed 100% of gains as income, the same as short-term gains in the US. That would be a disadvantage if considering NZ as an ex-pat destination.

By: Jai

Jai — Thu, 20 May 2010 16:15:05 +0000

New Zealand has always sounded like a great place to me. However, the tax changes mentioned here, while absolutely a step in right direction in some respects, are still inadequate to overcome NZ’s most basic flaw: high cost of living. Increasing sales taxes to 15% is a step in the wrong direction! People still have some needs to buy “stuff,” and putting those things further out of the reach of many people is merely shifting too-high tax burdens. The taxes on businesses, etc, and sales taxes both need to be reduced. Get business taxes, income taxes, sales taxes down to the 10% range at most, and things will really open up. Kiwis are delightfully self-reliant, self-sufficient. Stop taxing them to death!

The other obstacle is restrictions on immigration for “older” people. Doesn’t seem to matter if the person is an active, self-supporting businessperson or self-supporting retiree, or someone who could & would invest in NZ.

Please correct me if I’m wrong on the high-tax, high-cost, no-older-immigrants fronts, and I’ll move NZ back to the top of my list!