新西兰英语 180 New Zealanders Returning Home

　　There are many New Zealanders returning home to live at the moment. Traditionally, young Kiwis go overseas to live and work for a few years and this is called an OE (overseas experience). Some return home after a year or two and others stay away for longer, sometimes for good. Many go to Australia and the United Kingdom. If they marry an Australian or a British person, they probably decide to live in that country.
Even older New Zealanders have been attracted to Australia over the years because the wages can be higher there and it is not too distant or different from New Zealand. Now it looks like those people are returning home. Reasons for this could be that they have lost their job due to the recession¹ and want to be closer to family during such tough times. Unemployment is still quite low in New Zealand at 5%. In places like United Kingdom, United States and Australia, the unemployment rates are higher so it is harder to get a job. Houses are also more affordable² at the moment so it can be a good time to buy a house here.
Contributed by Anita Jones

1 recession   

n.（工商业的）衷退（期），萧条（期）

参考例句：

• Manufacturing fell sharply under the impact of the recession.受到经济萧条的影响，制造业急剧衰退。
• A rise in interest rates plunged Britain deeper into recession.利率的提高导致英国经济更加萧条。

2 affordable   

adj.支付得起的，不太昂贵的

参考例句：

• The rent for the four-roomed house is affordable.四居室房屋的房租付得起。
• There are few affordable apartments in big cities.在大城市中没有几所公寓是便宜的。