Economic hardship pushes 73,900 citizens to leave as wage gap and living costs drive exodus to Australia

New Zealand is witnessing an unprecedented exodus as citizens flee economic struggles for better opportunities across Tasman Sea. Country recorded 73,900 departures in year ending August 2025, surpassing previous record of 73,300, according to Stats NZ.

More than half of departing New Zealanders, 58%, chose Australia as their destination in 2024. Net migration loss between two countries reached 30,000 people last year, highest figure in over a decade. Young professionals and families are abandoning homeland citing unaffordable living costs and limited career prospects.

Hayden Fisher, 24, who moved to Sydney from Wellington last year, said financial relief was instant. Wellington resident was 'putting groceries on Afterpay' and spending half his wages on weekly shopping. In Sydney, bookshop worker spends just quarter of that amount.

"I love New Zealand, I love people, culture, but I feel like National party are mismanaging it," Fisher told media. He would consider returning only if conditions for students and renters became more "liveable".

Economic data reveals stark wage disparity driving migration. Australia's GDP per capita stands at roughly USD 64,400 (Tk 78 lakh 47 thousand 268), while New Zealand's sits at USD 48,000 (Tk 58 lakh 48 thousand 896), according to World Bank figures. Average weekly incomes are significantly higher across Tasman, where New Zealand citizens enjoy automatic work and residency rights.

Genevieve Fulton, 22, who relocated to Melbourne in January, said her Wellington casual job paid NZD 22.70 (Tk 1 thousand 578.32) per hour. In Australia she earns 'over double that' on weekends, allowing her to work fewer hospitality hours whilst building illustration career.

"Wellington is starting to feel quite hollow and bit spooky, just not really country that I feel like I grew up in," Fulton said, describing environment where friends struggle finding work.

Tyla Vaeau, master of traditional Samoan tattooing, moved to Gold Coast in January following family members who permanently relocated. "If you asked me two years ago if I would ever move to Australia, my answer was staunch 'no'. However, Auckland is changing," Vaeau explained.

Andy Fechney, 25, shifted from Christchurch to Sydney for graduate programme, citing career opportunities. "Purely from opportunities point of view, there's just lot more things happening in Australia," he said.

Professor Alan Gamlen, director of Migration Hub at Australian National University, said migration pattern dates back to 1970s but recent surge links to New Zealand's weak economy. Country feels global shocks, including long tail of Covid-19 pandemic, more intensely due to remote geography and small scale.

ANU analysis found 80 per cent of New Zealand diaspora lives in major Australian cities. In 2021, over third of New Zealand-born population concentrated in Brisbane and Gold Coast (21.4% and 15.9%  respectively), followed by Melbourne (19.3%t) and Sydney (17.4%).

Gamlen described influx as 'vital source of flexible labour' for Australian sectors including hospitality, construction and healthcare. New Zealanders are 'net-positive contributors to Australian fiscal purse, they contribute more in taxes than they consume', he noted.

While New Zealand worries about 'brain drain', Gamlen suggested viewing it as 'brain exchange'. Having large skilled diaspora allows New Zealand to 'punch above its weight politically and diplomatically' through expatriates abroad.

For most migrants, return seems unlikely. Fechney doesn't plan moving home 'any time soon', citing limited opportunities. "As much as I love it, there's only about 55 lakh people in New Zealand," he said.

Fulton's friends in Australia, mostly New Zealanders, plan staying longer. "New Zealand is beautiful country, but bunch of beautiful mountains can't really pay your rent and pay your bills," she concluded.

Source: The Guardian.