U.K.'s Tough Economy, Tightened Residency Requirements Pushes Kiwis Home

There's no place like home, when nobody else will have you

Kiwis heading to the United Kingdom for their traditional OE are returning home sooner because of increasingly difficult job and visa conditions, according to a university study.

Young brain-drainers have always come back home, but statistics and anecdotal evidence showed they were doing so more quickly than before, said University of Canterbury management researcher Dr Rosemary Baird.

The change has been prompted by the tough job market, she said. It was also becoming increasing difficulty to get long-term residency.