You've kind of answered my point Luke, as I have no doubt you enjoy what you do, in the long term the Airline industry wont have gained from you, as your heart(or your wifes) is clealry in NZ.
I totally agree that it is a Global Market and nothing will change as this particular industry cannot (or will not) in terms of recruitment think past the next few years. Like I said I am totally for foreign workers to come over , as I strongly believe in a diverse and culturally mixed society, as it makes for a better world. However the influx is short lived and airlines then have to fork out for more training. Or as you put "muppets" are prepared to fork the money out themselves, which is another argument altogther.
sp