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Moving to Australia

Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: Saltwater Fishing
Forum Name: The Briny Bar
Forum Description: The place for general chat on saltwater fishing!
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=137802
Printed Date: 06 Jul 2026 at 1:19am


Topic: Moving to Australia
Posted By: Tonto2
Subject: Moving to Australia
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2023 at 4:24pm
Is anyone or has anyone here moved to Oz recently? Can a nz citizen move there and become an Australian citizen? Especially interested in people over 60 and how that would affect retirement. Cheers

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slowly going where everyone else has already been



Replies:
Posted By: Kandrew
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2023 at 5:25pm
I would be interested as well


Posted By: Fish Addict
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2023 at 5:45pm
This link should help.
https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/citizenship/become-a-citizen/person-60-years-and-over" rel="nofollow - Become an Australian citizen (by conferral) Person 60 years or over (homeaffairs.gov.au)

I'm 72 and became an Australian citizen about two years ago however I have lived in Oz since 1980.  The process for a current nonresident would be different.  Send me a pm with any specific questions if you wish, more than happy to assist if I can.


Posted By: Tonto2
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2023 at 6:15pm
I've never even considered this in 62 years but fair to say I just am struggling to see a future in What was NZ.

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slowly going where everyone else has already been


Posted By: MB
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2023 at 6:22pm
Good for you! We've been talking about it for years. Regarding citizenship, things have changed for the better very recently.

https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/entering-and-leaving-australia/new-zealand-citizens/pathway-to-permanent-resident-and-citizenship" rel="nofollow - https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/entering-and-leaving-australia/new-zealand-citizens/pathway-to-permanent-resident-and-citizenship




Posted By: Kandrew
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2023 at 7:31pm
I manage an NZ company with HO based in Australian they have 7 branches in Australia, I get my staff asking all the time if there’s any jobs going in Australia. How do you plan for that, I think they are just waiting to see who gets in and they will be gone. Good tax paying NZers taking the skills and the tax they will earn to a country that will spend it wisely


Posted By: Tonto2
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2023 at 7:36pm
Kerry when you have the Prime Minister appear on TV and say that "unless you vote for labour then the removal of gst on fruit and veg won't happen". That sounded like a threat to me and also an attempt at blackmail and also a desperate attempt to remain in govt even though they and everyone else can see they are totally inept. If I could see any of the other politicians could turn it around it might be different but I don't see those people.

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slowly going where everyone else has already been


Posted By: Kandrew
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2023 at 8:19pm
Originally posted by Tonto2 Tonto2 wrote:

Kerry when you have the Prime Minister appear on TV and say that "unless you vote for labour then the removal of gst on fruit and veg won't happen". That sounded like a threat to me and also an attempt at blackmail and also a desperate attempt to remain in govt even though they and everyone else can see they are totally inept. If I could see any of the other politicians could turn it around it might be different but I don't see those people.
Yes they are desperate to stay in power and so are the greens, removing the gst will cost more to administer than the saving so let’s see how better off people will be. But they will have to wait until April and by then inflation would have cooled and guess what, then they will say no need to remove the GST now the cost of living crisis is over. Can’t NZers see through this rubbish.


Posted By: Reel Deal
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2023 at 8:51pm
A good way to reduce food costs is introduce 2 large overseas supermarket brands and boom sorted the market will take over from there.

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The gods do not subtract from the allotted span of men's lives the hours spent on fishing - Assyrian Proverb


Posted By: Fish Addict
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2023 at 9:16pm
Originally posted by Reel Deal Reel Deal wrote:

A good way to reduce food costs is introduce 2 large overseas supermarket brands and boom sorted the market will take over from there.

That is until they collaborate which is what I see over here between Coles and Woolworths.  Aldi tries to keep them honest but personally I believe we are being fleeced.  It's just all too easy to blame the war in Ukraine.


Posted By: Pcj
Date Posted: 14 Aug 2023 at 12:13am
Not sure if it still applies in Oz,but first yr working you get the majority of tax back and every yr after can claim for work related expenses as a employee,unlike here nil.

Stay at home Mums with children under 5 got a nice little sum providing partner was working,was the case when we were ther 2002/2003

Medicare/bank great scheme. Free doctors but subscrpitions were high. Had my cancerous moles removed for free on the back.

Wish we had stayed but her family ,yeah well better not go there.


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"Times up"


Posted By: pompey
Date Posted: 14 Aug 2023 at 8:39am
Pension age 67.
Means tested and asset tested.
Not that viable if you have income of $60k or assets $600k over family home.


Posted By: Tonto2
Date Posted: 14 Aug 2023 at 8:45am
Is the value of the family home included as an asset?

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slowly going where everyone else has already been


Posted By: pompey
Date Posted: 14 Aug 2023 at 9:44am
No, family home exempt.


Posted By: pompey
Date Posted: 14 Aug 2023 at 9:47am
Also, if you have income derived from assets here such as rental income or dividends, you may be taxed here and have the income calculated as income in Aussie as well. It is not that simple if you have built income streams here and want to cross over.


Posted By: Phantom Menace
Date Posted: 14 Aug 2023 at 9:53am
Originally posted by Tonto2 Tonto2 wrote:

Kerry when you have the Prime Minister appear on TV and say that "unless you vote for labour then the removal of gst on fruit and veg won't happen". That sounded like a threat to me and also an attempt at blackmail and also a desperate attempt to remain in govt even though they and everyone else can see they are totally inept. If I could see any of the other politicians could turn it around it might be different but I don't see those people.

TBH I saw that as more a statement of fact than a threat as it is Labours policy and no other partys policy.  I don't want the GST system to be diluted and believe it should remain the way it is.  

However if we wanted to look at a system where GST was levied on some things and not others then we can look at Australia (I was living in Australia when they introduced GST and there was a lot of debate about it!):
https://www.ato.gov.au/business/gst/when-to-charge-gst-%28and-when-not-to%29/gst-free-sales/" rel="nofollow - https://www.ato.gov.au/business/gst/when-to-charge-gst-(and-when-not-to)/gst-free-sales/

Australia also has higher personal income tax rates than NZ as well as the 2% Medicare levy and an additional amount on top of that for high income earners that don't have health insurance

Don't forget that Australia also has a Capital Gains Tax. 

This link gives a summary but some of the rates are a little out of date (e.g. Medicare Levy is now 2%)
https://hallandwilcox.com.au/thinking/a-guide-to-taxation-in-australia/" rel="nofollow - https://hallandwilcox.com.au/thinking/a-guide-to-taxation-in-australia/



NZ income tax rates:
https://www.ird.govt.nz/income-tax/income-tax-for-individuals/tax-codes-and-tax-rates-for-individuals/tax-rates-for-individuals" rel="nofollow - https://www.ird.govt.nz/income-tax/income-tax-for-individuals/tax-codes-and-tax-rates-for-individuals/tax-rates-for-individuals


Australian Income tax rates:
https://www.ato.gov.au/business/gst/when-to-charge-gst-%28and-when-not-to%29/gst-free-sales/" rel="nofollow - https://www.ato.gov.au/business/gst/when-to-charge-gst-(and-when-not-to)/gst-free-sales/



I occasionally look across the Tasman as my current role could be done from pretty much any major city on the Australian East Coast or NZ as my team and clients are spread round both.  Comparing tax systems and the benefits is tricky and you need to factor in your individual circumstances.



Posted By: Phantom Menace
Date Posted: 14 Aug 2023 at 10:12am
Originally posted by pompey pompey wrote:

Also, if you have income derived from assets here such as rental income or dividends, you may be taxed here and have the income calculated as income in Aussie as well. It is not that simple if you have built income streams here and want to cross over.

Yep - that was part of the "individual circumstances" I was thinking of at the end of my post above.  There is a Double Tax Agreement between NZ and Australia but it takes some effort to comply with / administer.
https://taxaccountant.kiwi.nz/new-zealand-tax/dta-australia-new-zealand" rel="nofollow - https://taxaccountant.kiwi.nz/new-zealand-tax/dta-australia-new-zealand

On a simpler level at work we monitor the time staff spend in each country to ensure they don't spend more than 183 days in any 12 month period in the other country to avoid the double tax compliance challenge.  Or if someone does then it is a deliberate decision that is managed rather than done by mistake.


Posted By: Alan L
Date Posted: 14 Aug 2023 at 2:32pm
If you qualify for NZ super, it should be transferable/payable in Aus.
There are about 20 countries NZ has signed on to which allows the pension to transfer with you. Pretty sure Aus is one. Turkey even. That doesn't work for Aussies retiring abroad - they forfeit the state pension.
Alan


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Legasea Legend member


Posted By: pompey
Date Posted: 14 Aug 2023 at 3:16pm
Originally posted by Alan L Alan L wrote:

If you qualify for NZ super, it should be transferable/payable in Aus.
There are about 20 countries NZ has signed on to which allows the pension to transfer with you. Pretty sure Aus is one. Turkey even. That doesn't work for Aussies retiring abroad - they forfeit the state pension.
Alan

Not transferable. A NZ citizen going to live in Australia will have to qualify for the Australian pension according to AUSTRALIAN laws not NZ.


Posted By: v8-coupe
Date Posted: 14 Aug 2023 at 5:11pm
Originally posted by Tonto2 Tonto2 wrote:

Is anyone or has anyone here moved to Oz recently? Can a nz citizen move there and become an Australian citizen? Especially interested in people over 60 and how that would affect retirement. Cheers

I believe, and could be wrong, if you were already living over there before you turned 60, no problem, if you head over after your 60th then no.
Someone more in the know may be able to shed more light on this.


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Legasea Legend Member


Posted By: Tonto2
Date Posted: 14 Aug 2023 at 5:23pm
Originally posted by Phantom Menace Phantom Menace wrote:

Originally posted by Tonto2 Tonto2 wrote:

Kerry when you have the Prime Minister appear on TV and say that "unless you vote for labour then the removal of gst on fruit and veg won't happen". That sounded like a threat to me and also an attempt at blackmail and also a desperate attempt to remain in govt even though they and everyone else can see they are totally inept. If I could see any of the other politicians could turn it around it might be different but I don't see those people.


TBH I saw that as more a statement of fact than a threat as it is Labours policy and no other partys policy.  I don't want the GST system to be diluted and believe it should remain the way it is.  

However if we wanted to look at a system where GST was levied on some things and not others then we can look at Australia (I was living in Australia when they introduced GST and there was a lot of debate about it!):
https://www.ato.gov.au/business/gst/when-to-charge-gst-%28and-when-not-to%29/gst-free-sales/" rel="nofollow - https://www.ato.gov.au/business/gst/when-to-charge-gst-(and-when-not-to)/gst-free-sales/

Australia also has higher personal income tax rates than NZ as well as the 2% Medicare levy and an additional amount on top of that for high income earners that don't have health insurance

Don't forget that Australia also has a Capital Gains Tax. 

This link gives a summary but some of the rates are a little out of date (e.g. Medicare Levy is now 2%)
https://hallandwilcox.com.au/thinking/a-guide-to-taxation-in-australia/" rel="nofollow - https://hallandwilcox.com.au/thinking/a-guide-to-taxation-in-australia/



NZ income tax rates:
https://www.ird.govt.nz/income-tax/income-tax-for-individuals/tax-codes-and-tax-rates-for-individuals/tax-rates-for-individuals" rel="nofollow - https://www.ird.govt.nz/income-tax/income-tax-for-individuals/tax-codes-and-tax-rates-for-individuals/tax-rates-for-individuals


Australian Income tax rates:
https://www.ato.gov.au/business/gst/when-to-charge-gst-%28and-when-not-to%29/gst-free-sales/" rel="nofollow - https://www.ato.gov.au/business/gst/when-to-charge-gst-(and-when-not-to)/gst-free-sales/



I occasionally look across the Tasman as my current role could be done from pretty much any major city on the Australian East Coast or NZ as my team and clients are spread round both.  Comparing tax systems and the benefits is tricky and you need to factor in your individual circumstances.


sometimes you have to look beyond the monetary gains and just go where you can be happy, there's a lot to weigh up.

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slowly going where everyone else has already been


Posted By: Phantom Menace
Date Posted: 14 Aug 2023 at 5:42pm
Definitely! Go where you will be happiest.

TBH the reason I posted the info above is because I have looked at moving and
  • staying in NZ feels like the right thing for me personally
  • The money stuff is debatable and often when someone is talking about Aus being better they are ignoring a lot of things and cherry-picking 
  • For some it does make sense to move to Aus for money but that isn't a true for everyone



Posted By: Tonto2
Date Posted: 14 Aug 2023 at 5:52pm
https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/08/14/kiwis-lining-up-in-droves-to-become-aussie-citizens/?fbclid=IwAR0tH4Jsw8CBa9CW2TOu97-37obNgcolfAZTunU1r7n9ex792DvXw1FynCU" rel="nofollow - https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/08/14/kiwis-lining-up-in-droves-to-become-aussie-citizens/?fbclid=IwAR0tH4Jsw8CBa9CW2TOu97-37obNgcolfAZTunU1r7n9ex792DvXw1FynCU

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slowly going where everyone else has already been


Posted By: Reel Deal
Date Posted: 15 Aug 2023 at 7:51am
Interesting thread as I’m sitting in Mooloolaba on a family holiday right now going gezz this is such a nice place to live. Then again Thailand has gone up as a retirement spot now too. Apart from super cheap lifestyle and fantastic private medical you can now as a foreigner purchase property 100%. Find a nice island with good fishing and a sports bar and relax by the pool or tour on motorbikes hmmm 

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The gods do not subtract from the allotted span of men's lives the hours spent on fishing - Assyrian Proverb


Posted By: Tonto2
Date Posted: 15 Aug 2023 at 8:12pm
Really liked mooloolaba but the fishing I had there was pitiful, a few years back now

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slowly going where everyone else has already been


Posted By: whippersnappyr
Date Posted: 01 Sep 2023 at 10:32pm
I don’t think it would make much sense to move oz at 60 or so unless you are pretty wealthy. You won’t get NZ Super and Australian super is means tested. 

Don’t worry about the labour government they are done. 

I lived in Balmain, Sydney for 5 years around 2000 and loved it and became an Australian citizen. As others have said it isn’t automatically superior and very expensive if you want to live in Sydney or Melbourne in a nice suburb. 


Posted By: DDO
Date Posted: 20 Sep 2023 at 3:01pm
Anyone want to buy a JetSki?

I’m done with the place. Aussie it is.
I lose some of my favourite fishing spots because I have the wrong colour skin. F#cK NZ.


Posted By: kitno
Date Posted: 21 Sep 2023 at 10:21am
Ok, bye




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