Record Number of New Zealanders Leave

A record number of New Zealand citizens are leaving the country, driven by high living costs and job shortages. In the year to April, an estimated 130,600 people departed, with 81,200 of them being New Zealand citizens—a 41% increase from the previous year. This marks the highest number of annual departures on record.

More than half of these New Zealanders headed to Australia, attracted by promises of higher pay and better working conditions. Young professionals and graduates are particularly likely to leave, seeking opportunities abroad as a common post-education tradition.

Stats NZ’s data reveals that while New Zealand experienced a net migration gain of 98,500 due to 154,900 non-citizens entering the country, a significant number of New Zealanders are still moving abroad. The largest groups of incoming migrants came from India, the Philippines, and China.

Tehseen Islam, Stats NZ’s population indicators manager, noted that migration trends are influenced by various factors, including economic and labor market conditions. Brad Olsen, a principal economist at Infometrics, identified two main reasons for the migration: young Kiwis seeking overseas experiences and families looking for better opportunities, primarily in Australia.

Olsen highlighted the challenges in convincing expatriates to return, given ongoing issues with housing affordability and job prospects. The “brain drain” could pose significant problems as the population ages, emphasizing the need to retain young, innovative talent to maintain economic productivity.