New Zealand experienced a net migration loss of 30,000 people to Australia in 2024, according to Stats NZ. This means more people left New Zealand for Australia than arrived from Australia last year. The figure is close to the 29,400 loss seen in 2023, showing the trend is continuing.
Sarah Drake, who speaks for Stats NZ on international migration, said the 2024 loss is the biggest in a calendar year since 2012. However, it is still smaller than the record 43,700 net loss recorded in the year ending March 2012.
Between 2004 and 2013, New Zealand regularly saw an average net loss of around 30,000 people to Australia each year. That number dropped a lot between 2014 and 2019, going as low as 3,000 during those years. But now, the higher migration outflow has returned.
The 2024 figures show that 47,300 people moved from New Zealand to Australia, while only 17,300 people came from Australia to New Zealand. In total, 58% of the 69,300 people who left New Zealand last year went to Australia.
Why are so many New Zealanders moving to Australia?
Many New Zealanders are drawn to Australia because of better job opportunities, higher wages, and a larger population that offers more services and options. This pattern has been going on for many years.
Interestingly, a growing number of New Zealand citizens moving to Australia were actually born outside New Zealand. In 2024, 35% of New Zealand citizens who migrated to Australia were born overseas. This shows how migration patterns are changing over time.
Despite the loss to Australia, New Zealand still saw a total net migration gain of 54,100 people from the rest of the world in 2024. Although this is much lower than the record net gain of 157,300 in 2023, it was enough to balance out the number of people leaving for Australia.
Experts say that while the numbers have dropped compared to last year, New Zealand’s overall migration trends remain strong. However, the continued movement to Australia highlights ongoing challenges in keeping skilled people in the country.