More New Zealanders moving to Australia than returning home

Friday 14 November 2025 · 3 outlets · 2 reports · updated Fri 14 Nov 2025, 8:16am

In this story Stats NZ

Recent Stats NZ data shows nearly 73,000 New Zealanders left the country in the past year, while only 26,000 returned. One 27-year-old from Whangārei described moving to Melbourne as an easy decision due to higher wages and a lower cost of living.

How they headlined it

7:57am

1. RNZFri 14 Nov 2025, 7:57am

   'Painfully easy': Why more Kiwis are choosing to go to Australia (opens in new tab)

   Also on 1News (opens in new tab)

2. Otago Daily TimesFri 14 Nov 2025, 8:16am

   'Painfully easy': Young Kiwis continue to jump the Ditch (opens in new tab)