Happiness in the Australian land of milk and honey

Fala Sakaria and his wife, Lafoaluga, with their children Lucas and Maryanne-Felesa, say the pay is good and living costs cheaper in Australia. Photo / Supplied

For Fala Sakaria, Australia is the new land of milk and honey.

After looking into job opportunities across the Ditch, he and wife Lafoaluga decided to make the move to Melbourne.

Just over a year later, Mr Sakaria, originally from Auckland, is earning almost twice as much as he would working as a welder in Auckland.

The couple and their two children, Lucas, 3, and 9-month-old Maryanne Felesa have moved into their own home and have savings - something they could never have achieved had they stayed in New Zealand.

"When it comes down to it, yes, it's really about the money," the 26-year-old said. "The money is good and the living costs are cheaper, not to mention gas. I get a lot more family time here as well."

"We love our life here. We have everything we ever wanted and I know our kids will get the best now because of my job. It's a really good feeling knowing I can provide for my family properly."

Mrs Sakaria, who is on maternity leave, said had they stayed in New Zealand, they would not have been able to afford to have her stay home.

"I would've had to find a job very quickly. But because of Fala's job and the money he gets, I can stay with our kids a little longer."

"We always have money left over now. We have a savings account now and it was never like that back home.

"Back home the money would slowly go down and pretty much be gone by Sunday. On Monday we had nothing. We don't want to go back to that."