My daughter moved to Melbourne. Will our economy ever be strong enough to bring her home? – Liam Dann

Opinion byBusiness Editor at Large·NZ Herald·18 Jul, 2026 05:00 PM6 mins to readLiam Dann, Business Editor at Large for New Zealand’s Herald, works as a writer, columnist, radio commentator and as a presenter and producer of videos and podcasts.‌Melbourne offers a more livable version of the high-energy urban lifestyle you might otherwise have to head to London or New York to find. Photo / Visit MelbourneI went to Australia during the school holidays, and now I’m an expert on its economy. Yeah, right. Everyone likes an anecdote. But the media’s obsession with anecdotes and case studies annoys me. I don’t want to pretend that visiting as a tourist gives me any special