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My brother-in-law emigrated to NZ a few years. He recently mentioned that looking at NZ heritage sites (unspecified), there was frequent reference to miners settling there from Cornwall and northern England. Knowing that I have an interest in mining (particularly coal, actually), he asked if I knew why this was. Following what I admit was approximately 30 seconds-worth of internet research, I guessed that the NZ metalliferous mining industry seemed to get going in the mid/late C19, probably through companies drawing capital from and having close connections with Britain, and would naturally recruit skilled labour from the home country; miners would be tempted away by a new life in the colonies, UK metalliferous mining was in decline (?), hence immigration from Cornwall and Yorkshire/Durham/Lake District (and Wales?). I was very pleased with this theory but it is actually uninformed surmise pretty much from start to finish. Can anyone confirm that I'm on the right track, or show me the error of my ways? Obviously this isn't a major issue but if anyone happens to know about this subject I'd be grateful if they could set me right. Thank you. David Cross.