Originally Posted by
Zaphod
We now have a number of qualified staff leaving our firm for foreign shores like the US and UK, despite the difficult (as you put it) covid response of those countries. Career opportunities for highly qualified individuals are extremely limited in New Zealand, and the reward in foreign markets is much higher. One staff member is set to double their salary in the US, which also provides a much lower cost of living, and provides far more networking opportunities to advance their career or build a business. One of my own colleagues works for a major US-based tech firm, earning US$280k +bonus (over US$100K last time) +perks. We can't compete, especially now.
Will these individuals return to NZ to retire and buy into retirement village units? Based on what I see with my colleagues, the answer is no. They have families in these countries, have developed support networks, and enjoy the greater travel and general leisure opportunities available. Some will be in the position that they could pay for the services provided by retirement villages but have them delivered in their own home. So the market for these villages are likely to be for those that have remained here, or perhaps close by (e.g. Australia).