Kiwis least happy with Australian life

New Zealanders living in Australia are unhappier than any other type of immigrants, a survey has found. 

They also distrust Australian politicians and government institutions more than almost any other group, the survey of experiences of Australian life released by the Scanlon Foundation and Monash University suggests.

It found almost three in 10 Kiwis said the thing they like least about Australia is racism and discrimination.

Report author Andrew Markus said that although New Zealanders do relatively well economically, there is a strong sense of discrimination because they do not get access to the same welfare and government assistance as other immigrants.

"I don't think a lot of people necessarily plan that well so they arrive and then later they find out (they don't get access to services)," he said.

"If an Australian goes to New Zealand they get full rights but they come here and they don't get full rights."

The survey, which covered more than 10,000 people, also found among Kiwi residents in Australia:

* 17 percent were unhappy

* 28 percent said experience of life in Australia was more negative than they expected

* 10 percent trust Australian political parties

* 17 percent trust the federal parliament

* 63 percent say "you can't be too careful" when asked if they trust other people.