For one reason or another most migrants manage to be able to leave New Zealand, eventually.

Welcome to the latest in our Migrant Tales series – first hand accounts of the migrant experience of New Zealand.

Today’s tale was sent in a while ago by a British migrant who’s been living in Christchurch for 6 years – so he’s experienced the effects of the earthquakes first hand.

If you’re thinking about moving to Christchurch, or anywhere else in NZ for that matter, you should probably read this.

Here’s his tale

‘Average Joe’ Families Exodus In Progress!

Hey guys, I’ve been here 6 years now after leaving the UK to start a life with a Kiwi girl here. I’m shocked how my city is developing an unhealthy bashing of the middle class and hard working ‘average families’ who are critical to the successful make up of any city. The ‘bottom feeders, benefits brigade’ make do with their alcoholic fueled, miserable existence, while the ‘mega rich, could not give a dam, pull the ladder up jack crowd’ get richer and feed off the remaining families that are attempting to survive their personal financial Kiwi Armageddon.

In fact, all you have to do is check out the Harcourts website – Christchurch listings – to see an indication of what I mean. I’m no way picking on Harcourts, as all the real estate agencies are the same. Guilty of selling highly priced rubbish and renting sub-standard, first world dwellings at extortionate rates to desperate families.

You can’t rent a decent, warm family house for anything less than $450 per week. Think about that for one minute against average wages. If you want to buy, then there is, for example, a parcel of land in Halswell available for $265,000 – no house, just land for 720 sq metre section. Its not as though land is hard to find in the city after the earthquake. lol

Other examples of Kiwi ingenuity is the ‘good old Kiwi’ house auction process. I could write an article on that alone, but sticking to my point, check out how many house sale listings do not show a price. Hmmm…feel like I’m being ripped off again!

The sad reflection of all this ‘underhand’ activity is that no wonder Christchurch is finding it difficult to attract skilled people and retaining their skills for the rebuild. Other families are leaving in droves to places where they can buy a house for, say, 2 to 3 times earnings, rather than buy a sub-standard house here for 6 to 7 times earnings. A sure way to be trapped for good is to be suckered in and overpay like this while the false boom continues.

The Earthquake was scary, but trying to find suitable, affordable accommodation in Christchurch is way more difficult and emotionally devastating task for its survivors now, creating a enormous crisis and exodus trend which will develop its own momentum in time.”

You may also be interested in

Migrant Tales – ‘Musings From the Land of Shrimp’ and ‘the Myth of 93% Satisfaction’

More in the Migrant Tales series