Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli PM's office: PM informed Trump he would not attend Sharm el-Sheikh Summit on account of Jewish holidays.
Israeli media: Netanyahu makes last-minute decision to cancel trip to Sharm el-Sheikh.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Large crowds gather in Khan Younis to welcome the liberated Palestinian detainees, waving flags of Hamas and Islamic Jihad in celebration
Buses of released prisoners arrive in Ramallah
Israeli media: Netanyahu gifts Trump a "Golden Dove".
Israeli media: Netanyahu will take part in Sharm el-Sheikh Summit.
Trump's Air Force One lands in Tel Aviv
Al-Qassam: To our free prisoners: Gaza, its Resistance, have given their most precious possessions, have striven with all their might to break your chains; we pledge that your cause will remain at the top of our national priorities until you are all freed.
Al-Qassam Brigades: Instead its army killed dozens of them as a result of its failed policy of military pressure.
Al-Qassam Brigades: Nazi occupation could have recovered most of its captives alive many months ago, but it kept stalling and acting arrogantly.

People leave New Zealand in record numbers over cost of living

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 12 Jun 2024 10:33
3 Min Read

130,600 departures were registered up to April year-on-year, which is the highest on record for an annual timeframe.

Listen
  • x
  • Residents walk their dog toward the summit of Mount Eden, a dormant volcano, in Auckland, New Zealand. (AFP)
    Residents walk their dog toward the summit of Mount Eden, a dormant volcano, in Auckland, New Zealand. (AFP)

New Zealand is witnessing a mass migration of its citizens leaving, with many heading to Australia, according to data by Stats NZ’s provisional international migration. It showed that there were 130,600 departures from April 2023 year on year, which is the highest on record for an annual timeframe.

Of those, almost 81,200 were New Zealand citizens – a 41% increase since last year and an increase from the previous record of 72,400 departures in 2012.

In total, there was an annual net migration gain of 98,500, as opposed to the 154,900 non-New Zealand citizens who entered, with the largest group being from India, followed by the Philippines and China.

Stats NZ also published provisional data on migration to Australia, which revealed that in the year to September 2023, 53% of NZ citizen departures headed to Australia.

Read next: New Zealand's Labour Party commits to recognizing Palestine

New Zealanders, especially young professionals and graduates, credited their leaving the country to high living costs and job shortages, given that it is also seen as a rite of passage for a lot of young New Zealanders to leave after graduating school or higher education.

Related News

Trump’s tariffs begin to squeeze US shoppers’ wallets: FT

US economy shows warning signs of stagflation return, Trump to blame

New Zealand's Brain Drain

Tehseen Islam, Stats NZ’s population indicators manager, told The Guardian, “Historically, changes in migration are typically due to a combination of factors – those include the relative economic and labor market conditions between New Zealand and the rest of the world.”

Meanwhile, Infometrics principal economist Brad Olsen noted the two main factors driving the migration.

“There will be younger Kiwis going overseas for an overseas experience, or a delayed overseas experience, because there have been heavy disruptions over the last few years on that front,” he said, adding that the numbers show how much people and families are looking for opportunities and moving permanently. 

Australian employers have frequently attempted to recruit New Zealand workers with offers of higher pay and better working conditions.

Olsen explains that it has become harder to convince people to return to NZ if housing affordability and job prospects continue to deteriorate, calling this ‘brain drain’ a problem for society as the population ages.

“We need to have as many young people as we can who are still part of the economy … who are being innovative and bringing their new thinking to the game so we can be more productive,” he warned, stating, “If we are losing our young talent and we’re not able to attract them back it makes all of [that] so much harder.”

Last year, New Zealander Prime Minister Chris Hipkins promised during his appointment to focus government reform on the "global pandemic of inflation" while the Labour Party announced it would focus on the rising costs.

The prices of food went up 11.3% year-on-year back in December 2022, which was considered the biggest jump in more than three decades. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, New Zealand's economy had not contracted since 2010.

  • inflation
  • New Zealand
  • cost of living

Most Read

The Palestinian resistance and the people of Gaza showed that after combating Israeli aggression for two years, they remain victorious in the face of oppression (Mahdi Rteil/Al Mayadeen English)

Al-Aqsa Flood two years on, a tale of victory

  • Politics
  • 6 Oct 2025
Taylor Swift: The Life of a Showgirl

The Life of a No-Girl: The one verse Taylor Swift refuses to sing

  • Arts and Culture
  • 8 Oct 2025
Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jaafarawi in an undated image in Gaza, occupied Palestine (Social media)

Gaza Palestinian journalist Saleh al-Jafarawi killed by collaborators

  • Politics
  • 12 Oct 2025
Ceasefire in Gaza takes effect amid conflicting signals and bombings

Gaza ceasefire takes effect; 'Israel' resumes bombing, timing disputed

  • Politics
  • 9 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
'Israel' used fake 3D tunnel footage to justify Gaza genocide: LaSexta
Palestine

'Israel' used fake 3D tunnel footage to justify Gaza genocide: LaSexta

drop site
Politics

New report details extensive Israeli arson in Gaza after ceasefire

ap
Politics

SDF, Damascus reach preliminary deal to integrate forces

Palestinians search through the rubble of buildings destroyed by Israeli airstrikes in Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, on October 12, 2025. (AFP)
Politics

Gaza families return to ruins, searching for their loved ones

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS