Record Number of Kiwis Fleeing to Australia as NZ's Economy Weakens
In the past year alone, over 73,000 New Zealand citizens have left their homeland in search of better economic prospects. The majority of these departures are bound for Australia, a country with higher average weekly incomes and more favorable work conditions.
Hayden Fisher, a 24-year-old bookshop worker from Wellington, made the move to Sydney a year ago and has already seen significant improvements in his financial situation. "I'm putting groceries on Afterpay" was replaced by "spending half of my wages on the weekly food shop," but now he spends only about a quarter of that amount.
Fisher's sentiments are echoed by many others, including Genevieve Fulton, 22, who moved to Melbourne in January and earns significantly more than her casual job in Wellington paid. She described an environment where her friends were "struggling to find any sort of work" and saw Australia as offering a better quality of life.
This brain drain has significant implications for New Zealand's economy, which is already struggling with a weak economy. Professor Alan Gamlen, director of the Migration Hub at the Australian National University, believes that the flow of recent arrivals is not just driven by economic factors but also follows an established trend of Kiwis seeking greater opportunities abroad.
The wage gap between New Zealand and Australia is stark, with GDP per capita standing at $64,400 in Australia compared to $48,000 in New Zealand. The influx of New Zealanders has been welcomed by experts as a vital source of flexible labor in sectors such as hospitality, construction, and healthcare.
However, for many Kiwis living in Australia, the prospect of returning home seems unlikely, at least in the near term. With over 80% of the New Zealand diaspora living in major Australian cities, the cost of living and housing crisis in Auckland have become insurmountable obstacles.
"It's always been the case that they contribute more in taxes than they consume," says Gamlen, who views this flow as a "brain exchange". Having a large, skilled diaspora is really useful for New Zealand, allowing it to punch above its weight politically and diplomatically.
In the past year alone, over 73,000 New Zealand citizens have left their homeland in search of better economic prospects. The majority of these departures are bound for Australia, a country with higher average weekly incomes and more favorable work conditions.
Hayden Fisher, a 24-year-old bookshop worker from Wellington, made the move to Sydney a year ago and has already seen significant improvements in his financial situation. "I'm putting groceries on Afterpay" was replaced by "spending half of my wages on the weekly food shop," but now he spends only about a quarter of that amount.
Fisher's sentiments are echoed by many others, including Genevieve Fulton, 22, who moved to Melbourne in January and earns significantly more than her casual job in Wellington paid. She described an environment where her friends were "struggling to find any sort of work" and saw Australia as offering a better quality of life.
This brain drain has significant implications for New Zealand's economy, which is already struggling with a weak economy. Professor Alan Gamlen, director of the Migration Hub at the Australian National University, believes that the flow of recent arrivals is not just driven by economic factors but also follows an established trend of Kiwis seeking greater opportunities abroad.
The wage gap between New Zealand and Australia is stark, with GDP per capita standing at $64,400 in Australia compared to $48,000 in New Zealand. The influx of New Zealanders has been welcomed by experts as a vital source of flexible labor in sectors such as hospitality, construction, and healthcare.
However, for many Kiwis living in Australia, the prospect of returning home seems unlikely, at least in the near term. With over 80% of the New Zealand diaspora living in major Australian cities, the cost of living and housing crisis in Auckland have become insurmountable obstacles.
"It's always been the case that they contribute more in taxes than they consume," says Gamlen, who views this flow as a "brain exchange". Having a large, skilled diaspora is really useful for New Zealand, allowing it to punch above its weight politically and diplomatically.
, but I think it's awesome that they're chasing their dreams and finding better opportunities abroad 
! Australia's got a great vibe going on, and I'm sure Hayden and Genevieve are loving the new life in Sydney and Melbourne 
. Plus, who can blame them for wanting to upgrade from Afterpay groceries 
? The wage gap is huge, but it shows that people are willing to take risks and make changes to improve their lives. And honestly, NZ's got some amazing talents leaving and coming back (or not) - it's all about the brain exchange 
! Maybe NZ can learn a thing or two from those Aussies and upgrade its own economic game 
?
... i get why ppl wanna move 2 australia 4 better jobs n all, but 80% of nz expats r livin in oz? that's a big chunk of talent goin down 4 the aussie economy 
. and it's not like NZ is offerin much 2 counter attract 'em either 
. i mean, if u got $64k 4 capita in oz n only $48k in nz, that's a pretty big gap 2 bridge 
.
i mean, dont get me wrong, aussie wages are pretty sweet 
how many kiwis can actually afford to move abroad in the first place tho? like, im sure hayden fisher is lucky or something 
. The brain drain thing is a concern too - we need all that skill and experience back home. Can't help feeling like our politicians should be doing more to address this issue 
... I mean, who wouldn't wanna trade in their Afterpay fees for a decent life? It's like, Australia just gets it, you know? Their wages are all over the place, but at least they can afford to chill out and enjoy life outside of work 
. And let's be real, if NZ's economy is still struggling after all these years, I don't blame people for jumping ship 
. It's like, 73k Kiwis leaving = some serious brain drain 
... but in a good way? Maybe NZ should just get with the times and stop being so cheap 
. It's not just about the money; it's about the quality of life and opportunities that Australia is offering. I mean, who wouldn't want to move abroad for better job prospects and a higher standard of living? 
. On one hand, it's good for NZ's economy if they're contributing with their skills and expertise 
. On the other hand, it's not great for those Kiwis who are leaving behind their loved ones and way of life 
.
What's going on with our economy? It's like we're watching all our young talent fly south just to make ends meet. Australia's got a better life, no doubt, but we can't blame them for that! 
It's more about the system here – low wages, high cost of living... it's not exactly an attractive place to stay. I'm all for people pursuing their dreams and finding better opportunities, but at what cost? 
. I mean, who wouldn't want to swap the struggles of finding a decent job in NZ for better pay and conditions down under? 
. The fact that 80% of NZ's diaspora is already living in major Aussie cities just shows how much more attractive the lifestyle and economy are over here 
.
. We're basically exporting our most talented and skilled individuals to Australia, which could leave us short-staffed and struggling to innovate 
. I guess it's a trade-off though - we need those Aussie dollars coming in to boost our economy, right?