Editorial: We're a nation with ants in our pants

It wasn't entirely surprising to read that New Zealanders are world leaders in upping sticks and making a new life elsewhere in the country.

A new survey has revealed that more than a quarter of us have moved to a different part of the country within the past five years.

It's true we can be a restless bunch, but the reasons for moving are just as likely to be the pursuit of work or education.

Being a relatively small country, with a relatively small population, most of New Zealand's cities and town cannot offer the same services and opportunities that big centres can. As industries in the regions dwindle and centralise to the big smoke this is even moreso the case.

Though I've lived most of my life in Rotorua, I'm one of those who moved in the past five years (twice) and have managed to rack up seven hometowns in New Zealand (and a couple elsewhere).

Two of my moves were for educational opportunities not available at home, the others were for work opportunities.

It's interesting to note that while New Zealand is a similar size to Great Britain, with quite a few million fewer people, we have nowhere near the same number of accents. Other than in the deep south, we've never stuck around in big enough groups in one place for long enough to develop anything other than our wonderful broad Kiwi twang. We are a nation on the move.

Despite all the roaming, I'm one of the lucky ones who has been able to end up back in my home town. But even so, this isn't a huge country and though it may at times feel like it, you're never too far from home wherever you are.