People leave New Zealand in record numbers in 12 months to November By Reuters

Written by Lucy Craymer

WELLINGTON (Reuters) – (This January 22 story has been corrected to say ’12 months to November’ instead of ‘year to November’ in the headline and paragraphs 1, 2, and 8; to say ‘the 12 months ended in October’ of ‘the year to October’ in paragraph 8 and adding the words dropped in the quotations in paragraph 10) the country’s economic weakness which went down to recession in the third quarter.

Data released by Statistics New Zealand on Thursday showed 127,800 people left the Pacific country in the 12 months to November, up 28% on the previous 12 months. This was the highest number of departures in a year, according to the statistics department.

Of those leaving, more than 50% were New Zealanders, according to the data.

New Zealand, with a population of just 5.3 million, has seen its economy struggle over the past few years as the central bank has increased interest rates to bring down historically high inflation.

Michael Gordon, chief economist at Westpac, said many people come to New Zealand for job opportunities and when this dries up people leave.

“It’s about job opportunities, especially here (in New Zealand) against Australia. The Australian economy is still working reasonably strongly,” Gordon said. “There are a lot of opportunities now, so we’re seeing a lot more Kiwis.”

However, travelers continue to resent internal migration.

Statistics New Zealand said net migration – the number of people moving to New Zealand permanently excluding those leaving New Zealand – was 30,600 in the 12 months to November 2024. Migration while the internet peaked in the 12 months ending October 2023 at 135,700.

Gordon added that immigration has returned to historic levels and that over time, immigration will support the national economy.

“It’s something you have to remember, that for a large part of the world, New Zealand is an attractive place to live, but even for us (New Zealanders) there are also places that look just as good. in Australia, or to the US or the UK,” said Gordon.