Lifestyle lures Aussie adviser across the Tasman

James Waggett, who made the move in January, lives with his young family in the Wakatipu Valley outside Arrowtown but still works as a senior client adviser for Aussie stockbroking firm Bell Potter Securities, which is part of the ASX-listed Bell Financial Group.

And he said that in a "globalised" market, there was a real opportunity for the government to promote New Zealand as a destination for international financial services professionals.

"The number one competitive advantage for New Zealand is the lifestyle available for families.  I can go skiing, fly fishing, hang gliding and hiking... I've even got out the mountain bike after about 10 years in my Sydney garage.  Where I live is very cosmopolitan; I've got neighbours from America, Germany, France, South Africa, the UK and Australia."

He said with great broadband (he installed a satellite dish for that purpose), VOIP, Skype &Viber, someone in his position could do the same job from almost anywhere in the world.