A tradesman was flown to Australia by his new employer two months ago for a job that is paying $12 an hour more than he earned in New Zealand.
Paul Holmes, a linesman, says he is one of several workmates from the same New Zealand employer to make the same move within a year.
"When I was training with five or six guys, everyone was planning to move once they got qualified," said Mr Holmes
"And eventually, even the guys who trained me made the move."
Mr Holmes said it was best to train in New Zealand because it took only two years to gain a qualification equivalent to four years' training in Australia.