High cost of living hits immigrants

[MotherBear]

High cost of living hits immigrants
Page 1 of 2 ...... 5:00AM Tuesday May 20, 2008
By Simon Collins

New immigrants to New Zealand love the lifestyle - but a third of them say they don't have enough money to make ends meet.

The first results of a Statistics NZ survey of 7000 people who gained permanent residence here in 2004-05 has found that 93 per cent were either satisfied or very satisfied with life here six months after they arrived.

Only 1 per cent were dissatisfied.

They loved New Zealand's climate and natural beauty (77 per cent), friendly people and relaxed pace of life (63 per cent) and their ability to achieve their desired lifestyle here (62 per cent).

But three of their top five dislikes reflected the high cost of living: high taxes (36 per cent), health costs (28 per cent) and poor quality or costly housing (18 per cent).

And a parallel survey of 600 skilled migrants, also published yesterday by the Labour Department, has found that one in every three migrants does not have enough money to meet their everyday needs.

More here .

[MotherBear]

Everything's going up
Page 1 of 3 ......... 5:00AM Sunday May 25, 2008
By Alice Hudson

Budgeting services and foodbanks are struggling to cope with unprecedented demand as rising living costs start to bite.

Waiting lists are getting substantially longer and more middle-class families are seeking financial help.

Luxuries are off the menu for all but the highest earners and the social cost is starting to hurt, with stress, depression, break-ups and family violence on the rise.

Mangere Budgeting and Family Support Services chief executive Darryl Evans told the Herald on Sunday families in financial dire straits were experiencing "extreme stress".

More here .