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Over here or over there?
Kiwis are known for having itchy feet. We like to travel, we like to explore and we often can’t wait to get on the plane and leave New Zealand behind. It’s said that it’s all to do with our size and isolation. We may be a popular destination for international visitors, but at any one time, around one in five New Zealanders can be found living and working overseas. So what’s the big attraction, why have people left in such big numbers - and what’s keeping the rest of us here? We’ve trawled the internet to find some of the reasons:
Ten reasons for leaving New Zealand: |
Ten reasons for staying put: |
|---|---|
| 1) More opportunities/better pay | 1) Family and friends |
| 2) See other lands and cultures | 2) Where home is |
| 3) Better weather | 3) Fewer people |
| 4) Lower cost of living | 4) More open space |
| 5) Safer roads | 5) Slower pace of life |
| 6) Better education | 6) Māori culture |
| 7) Join family and friends | 7) Landscape and scenery |
| 8) More cultural diversity | 8) Haven from rest of world |
| 9) Better quality houses | 9) Holidays in Australia & Pacific |
| 10) Lack of infrastructure | 10) Lack of money |
The only places in the world where Kiwis can be found in large numbers are, not surprisingly, Australia and the UK. Around 1 in every 10 New Zealanders lives in Australia, and 1 in 80 lives in the UK. That’s a lot of Kiwis who’ve chosen to live overseas. In 2003, 43% of permanent and long-term departures were to Australia, 21% were to the United Kingdom. The next most popular place to migrate to was the United States, attracting 4% of Kiwis going to live overseas1.
It works the other way round too. New Zealand is the top destination for Australians moving overseas, followed by the UK2, while New Zealand is the fifth most popular destination for Brits heading abroad, after Australia, Spain, France and the USA3 in that order.
If you’re a Kiwi reading this from overseas, the NZ Government is currently trying to tempt you to return home. Connect with other expat New Zealanders at keanewzealand.com
We recommend: Travel resources
On this web site:
Our Internet Gateway recommends:
- Our online guide to the best travel and tourism web sites
- Australian online news and newspapers and job vacancies
- UK online news and newspapers and job vacancies
- International news and newspapers and job vacancies
- Air New Zealand – Air New Zealand’s guide to planning an overseas trip
- ird.govt.nz – advice from Inland Revenue on the tax implications of working overseas
- ebigoe.com – tips for your Big OE, particularly to the UK
Browse the resources in our libraries:
- Kiwis working abroad – advice for New Zealanders planning to work overseas
- Employment in foreign countries – how to find work overseas
Sources
1: Carl Walrond. 'Kiwis overseas', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 21 Dec 2006
3: Office of National Statistics UK,
20 Jan 2007
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=507&More=N
