About six months ago, my daughter called from London, where she had been living for three years, to say she had decided not to take up an extended work visa but to return to New Zealand, and to Auckland, for good.
I was absolutely thrilled for obvious reasons. I imagined a bunch of grandchildren I could take to the park, pick up from school and teach to wash dishes. Then in August, two days before she was to return, I got a call from her to say she was only coming for three weeks because for all her attempts she had only been able to get a job in Sydney.
That was the bad news. The good news was that the role was a maternity cover, so in April 2026 I might get her back if I’m lucky. She tells me, however, that most jobs in recruitment at her level pay are $30,000 less per annum in New Zealand than in Australia. She and her partner want to live here but at 27-years-old she says it has become a practical choice. Hopefully, she will be able to come back but I'm sure many other parents out there are having a similar experience.
Why has New Zealand become so hard for young people?
We cannot hide from the record numbers going to Australia. The economy is in a slump and as unemployment rises, it hits younger people much harder than older ones. We have 20%-plus unemployment for our under 25-year-olds.
Even if our young people do get jobs, the pay becomes an issue because it is far too low. It is impossible without an inheritance for many of our kids to buy a house. I bought my house when I was exactly my daughter’s age. I still live there. When my marriage ended, I managed to hold onto that house through my children’s teenage years. That time taught me the value to children of a house for stability in rough times.
The reality is, even if my daughter comes back and wants to live in Mt Albert, it remains unaffordable for her at present. Gone are the days when you could buy the worst house in the best street and do it up over time. We don’t have enough affordable homes in Mt Albert. We can only do that if we build them.
They faced similar problems in Australia and tackled them by creating precinct plans designed around train stations as community hubs that provide attractive and imaginative alternatives to careless 'intensification'. I am keen to explore plans like these for Mt Albert, including industrial areas in a holistic redesign. I have seen this done in Sydney and Melbourne and the results are fantastic.
The National Government has introduced significant changes to current planning regulations to provide solutions to our housing crises and are inviting submissions on their proposals. The submissions period is our chance to contribute to the plans. That opportunity to provide feedback is critical and, because it could make a difference to the future we live in, I am holding a public meeting so we can discuss what we might like to raise in our submissions.
I have invited a group of experts who hold a range of views on how to make Mt Albert the best place to live, both for us and those who follow us. I want a city that my daughter can return to where she can buy an affordable house in our area and I get to see my grandkids. The meeting will be held at the Trades Hall, 147 Great North Road, on 26 November 2025 at 6pm. I would love to see you there. (HELEN WHITE)
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