A report in NZ’s The Dominion says that a scheme allowing young Kiwis to do their OE in the United States is expected to be unveiled today at a US-New Zealand forum.
The agreement is expected to mirror one announced in Australia by US President George W Bush and Australian Prime Minister John Howard at APEC last week, with under that agreement, as many as 15,000 young Australians are expected to don their backpacks for the opportunity to broaden their horizons beyond the traditional British and European OE.
The scheme is open to anyone between the ages of 18 and 30, they are allowed up to a year travelling and working in the US, with up to four months of that available for study.
Today’s US-New Zealand Partnership Forum is the return visit of a meeting in Washington last year and brings a high-powered US delegation to Auckland, including Assistant Secretary of State Chris Hill and representatives of organisations including Boeing, Nike, Dairy Farmers of America and the US Chamber of Commerce.
Richard Armitage, a former deputy secretary of state under Mr Bush, will also be at the summit, which is to discuss strategic and business interests between the two countries.
Report by The Mole
