Kiwis Will Come Home

Thursday 30 May 2002

Kiwis Will Come Home Despite Easing To Working Holiday Visas

Kiwis will return home despite proposed easing of the restrictions of the UK working holiday visa says 1stContact, the Kiwis will return home despite proposed easing of the restrictions of the UK working holiday visa says 1stContact, the UK’s largest advisory for Kiwi travellers.

Last night the British home office released a consultation document citing changes to the working holiday scheme and asking for views on the proposed changes.

1stContact Managing Director, Mike Kaye today welcomed the changes which included expanding the upper age limit for the scheme from 27 to 30because the age extension better reflects the lifestyle of young New Zealanders wanting to take advantage of the big OE.

But based on the results of a survey undertaken by 1stContact, Kaye says while it will be easier for Kiwis to work in their chosen professions in the UK its likely the majority of Kiwis will come home.

In a survey of undertaken by the company last month, life experience/travel is named as the top motivator by 88% of young New Zealanders on UK working holiday visas.

An overwhelming 91% of Kiwis in the United Kingdom intend to return home within five years, despite better career prospects and the lure of the British pound for working holiday – makers.

This is significant says Mike Kaye, Managing Director 1stContact.

“More than 300 kiwi respondents indicated better jobs and money are not enough to keep the majority of New Zealanders from returning home. It’s clear from this survey that it’s the “experience” most young Kiwis are looking for,” he says.

Once in the UK, most Kiwis say the combination of money, better career prospects and travel will keep them staying on for up to five years. But they will be back. Of those surveyed, 50 percent intend to return home in one - two years, and 41 percent within two - five years. (Only 5 percent would stay for up to 10 years and less than 4 percent would never come home.)

Although 61 percent say job prospects are better in the UK, only a minority (6 percent) give career opportunity as the main reason for going on a working holiday.

ENDS

www.1stcontact.co.uk

1stContact was co-founded in the UK in 1990 by New Zealander Mike Kaye, and employs around 300 staff in the UK, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. 1st Contact assists with every stage of the “OE” from before leaving home to the return journey. Services include advice on visas and immigration; tax and financial services; recruitment; accommodation; telecommunications and shipping. For hot travel tips and more information seewww.1stcontact.co.ukor call the New Zealand Office 0800 22 43 22.

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