But isn't living in the lower half of the South Island putting yourself under some kind of deprivation anyway, BP? ;)Less sun, the snow, the wind, the massive drives to get anywhere, this doesn't suit everybody, but does make for a good change of scenery.
Are you seriously suggesting that the lower South Island could mop up all of the unemployed and put them into good jobs? Or would the dairy farmers and others stick with their Filipino workers, workers who are keen to work at lower rates of pay in the colder conditions? Before you jump at me, if these jobs were really well paid and workers were in such short supply, you'd think something would be happening. The market has already solved it, they import cheaper workers, and make do.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/n...ectid=11261625