If you had the choice of moving you and your family to NZ, OZ or Canada, where..

Like a lot of countries all 3 of those vary hugely depending upon where you go. Countries like Australia will encourage you to come if you have a bit of money and useful skills, however they want you to go and live places where Austrailans are leaving, like Perth for example. Sydney or Melbourne is where the better jobs are and it’s very very hard as a foreigner to get to go there. I’d also not underestimate the cost of living there and also ensure you check out the pension arrangements.

Of the three you list I’d take Canada especially Vancouver. I’d do this as I love winter sports and because it’s much closer to Europe. In my view its also a better balanced economy with excellent opportunities, good education and a welcoming culture. OZ and especially NZ are a long way for everywhere. I lived in Singapore and it was quicker to travel to ski in Europe than Queenstown.

@joemarshall – I’d disagree on the Canada/US similarity, IME Canadians are far nicer people and it’s a much nicer society to be part of (I lived in NY for 3 years and worked and travelled in a lot of North America)

if we didnt have as much debt and put down as many roots as we have we’d be on the first plane to NZ, looks like it will be retirement now 😉

lived there for a year back in 2003, worked and lived with kiwi’s but got about to see pretty much all the main places.

much more laid back life style than UK, far less populated think it hit 4million when i was there and from memory the two island together have a slightly bigger land mass than uk so that give you an idea.

i loved the fact you could drive out of a town/city within minutes you could be in the middle of knowhere.

the weather pretty much th esame as uk, but i guess winters can be more extreme in parts.

NZ does feel like it is stuck in time, hard to explain. but i loved it.

oh the beer is utter sh*te!

but the main point as said above, can you and your gang leave family, friends behind?

I am Australian and have lived in Canada and the UK and as much as I love Australia Canada beats us hands down for outdoor sports winter and summer (BC at least). So guessing as you are on a mtb forum take this into considiration as for your family well I think both countries are good places to raise kids. I would make sure you that you make the move that the wife wants in my exiperences happy wife happy life etc. If your intreseted in more questions email me.