I spoke too soon

[kiwigeo]

New Zealand is a nation of mummy's boys, with a fifth of men aged between 20 and 34 still living with their parents.

Statistics New Zealand has found that 20 per cent of men in that age bracket identify themselves as living at home, compared with 13 per cent of women.

By the time men hit the 35 to 49 age group, the rate drops to 3.5 per cent (1.7 per cent for women of the same age).

New Zealanders are not as attached to their parents as their Australian counterparts.

Twenty-seven per cent of men aged between 20 and 34 were still living with their parents twice as many as women in the same age group.

Australian social demographer Bernard Salt said: "Men are living at home well into their 20s because they get free meals, free board, free laundry and free access to the family car. And you can have your girlfriend stay in your bedroom overnight, so why would you ever leave home?"

Daniel Pegley, 34, of Christchurch, has been living with his parents for just over three years.

Pegley, a travel consultant, said his living arrangements had carried on five months longer than planned, and all parties were ready for him to leave the family nest. He moved out of home when he was about 20 to travel, and returned at 30, when he studied at university.

For $100 a week, Pegley has a bedroom and en suite in his parents' five-bedroomed Fendalton home.

Mother Margaret does all the cooking and laundry, but stops short of ironing or tidying her son's room.

Pegley said that in the past six months his priorities had changed.

He has a full-time job and a girlfriend who has children.

With financial help from his parents, he plans to buy a house.