30,000 Kiwis flocked to Australia in 2024 – so the grass is always greener on the other side？| NZR Investigative Report

In 2024 roughly 47,300 New Zealanders left for Australia, with only about 17,300 arriving from Australia. This yielded a net migration loss of ~30,000 people to Australia – the largest annual outflow since 2012. (In the year to Dec 2024, 58% of NZ citizen migrants went to Australia.) NZ officials report that net migration into Aotearoa was still positive overall – about +27,100 in 2024, down sharply from +128,300 in 2023. In other words, migration gains from the rest of the world (~+54,100) more than offset the loss to Australia. As a result, New Zealand’s population continued to grow, albeit modestly: the estimated resident population was 5.311 million (as at Dec 2024), up about 47,700 from the year before (0.91% growth).

Economists note that the recent spike in departures reflects a cooling NZ economy and job market. ASB economist Mark Smith observes that the “record number of departures reflected the relatively weak position of the economy”. In short, many Kiwis cite stagnant wages and scarce local opportunities (especially in industries like tech and construction) as push factors. With household budgets under pressure at home, a substantial share – nearly one-quarter of NZ citizens who leave – choose to cross the Tasman.

Aussies on the Move: Destinations and Numbers

Meanwhile, Australia remains a huge net recipient of migrants, and a large number of its citizens also move abroad each year. In the 2023‑24 financial year (to June 2024), 221,000 people departed Australia, up 8% from the previous year. Of those departures, about 84,000 were Australian citizens (with the rest being visa holders). Prior to the pandemic, Australia saw roughly 93,000 citizens emigrating annually on average, so this is a bit lower, but still significant.

Where do Australians go? OECD analysis shows that a sizable share leave for traditional destinations: in 2022 roughly 23% of departing Australian citizens migrated to New Zealand, 19% to the United Kingdom, and 18% to the United States. (By contrast, only about 14% of outgoing Australian migrants went to Canada or other countries.) New Zealand is a particularly common destination given its proximity and visa arrangements. In fact, Australia-born people now number ~270,000 in New Zealand, roughly 8% of NZ’s population, reflecting years of two-way flows.

Immigration and Population Growth in Australia

While Australians leave in the hundreds of thousands, Australia’s inflow is even larger. In 2023–24, there were about 667,000 migrant arrivals into Australia (down 10% from the previous year). These include returning Australian citizens and migrants of all kinds. With only ~221,000 departures (as above), this produced a net migration gain of roughly +340,800. In practical terms, Australia’s estimated resident population reached 27.40 million by Dec 2024, growing by 445,900 people (1.7%) that year.

In other words, Australia’s population is increasing strongly, driven largely by international migration. Australia’s net gain (+340k) in 2024 was far above its pre-pandemic norm (+250k), and far outstrips New Zealand’s net gains in absolute terms (due to Australia’s much larger size). (By comparison, NZ’s natural increase plus net migration brought in ~47,700 people in 2024.) The influx in Australia comes from many sources – including large numbers of international students and skilled migrants – but also a healthy return of Australians and Kiwis. Indeed, Australian Bureau of Statistics figures for 2023–24 show higher arrival counts for Australian citizens (60k, up from 52k) and NZ citizens (51k, up from 43k).

Economic Drivers: Jobs, Wages and Housing

Why do so many Kiwis head to Australia? The main draw is jobs and higher pay. Australia’s economy is much larger and more diversified. Wages in Australia are notably higher on average: for example, median weekly earnings in late 2024 were around A$1,396 (about NZ$1,590), compared to about NZ$1,343 in mid-2024. That 4–5% difference may understate the gap for full-time workers (median full-time pay is roughly AU$1,700/week). In dollar terms, a typical Kiwi moving to a skilled job in Sydney or Melbourne can earn 10–20% more than in New Zealand. (A finance columnist even notes Australian wages “outstrip New Zealand’s by around 20%” on average.) Combined with a stronger Australian dollar, many Kiwis end up with much greater purchasing power.

Australia’s job market also appears more robust. Unemployment in mid-2024 was around 4.0–4.1% in Australia versus roughly 5% in NZ, reflecting slightly tighter conditions and more available roles Down Under. Sectors such as healthcare, tech, mining and construction generally offer more openings and higher pay in Australia. Economists say this “pull” of Australia helps explain the migration: as Dark Horse Financial observes, many Kiwis move not just for pay but for “better career prospects, affordable housing, and future security”.

However, the cost of living in Australia is generally higher. Housing stands out. Median home prices in Sydney or Melbourne are far above NZ levels. One cost comparison notes the median Sydney house price is about A$1.65 million, versus roughly NZ$1.0 million in Auckland. Rents are similarly pricier – a 3‑bed apartment in central Sydney runs well above A$6,900/month on average, versus about NZ$3,800 in Auckland. In short, Australians and Kiwis both struggle with home affordability, but in absolute terms Sydney and Melbourne are among the world’s most expensive markets. (For context, NZ’s housing market has been mostly flat or slightly down; Auckland prices fell ~1.8% in the year to Apr 2024, whereas Australia’s market has “fully recovered” and hit record highs.)

Wages vs housing: The key for migrants is striking a balance. A high-paying job or family support can make Australia attractive despite the costs. But for lower‑paid workers or those without local networks, “the grass isn’t always greener.” As one Kiwi noted from Sydney, living expenses and mortgages there can actually be more expensive than in NZ. Without a solid income, many migrants find quality of life drops. In short, most Kiwis moving to Australia do so because their earnings potential and job prospects rise more than living costs, but it’s far from guaranteed.

NZ commentators worry about the demographic impact. The “brain drain” of talent is accelerating: besides economic factors, the ease of moving under the Trans-Tasman travel arrangement means skilled young Kiwis can up sticks quickly. The upshot is that, even though New Zealand is still gaining people overall (thanks to migration from Asia and other regions), the loss of many working-age Kiwis to Australia is a warning sign. Policymakers note that a persistently low net inflow could ease demand in NZ (dragging on inflation and housing markets) but also hobble growth. As ASB’s Smith warns, the lagging net migration flow into NZ is contributing to a “sluggish pace” in consumer and housing activity.

Australia’s perspective: From Down Under, policy debates focus on managing the influx. Australia’s net migration (and record population growth) has helped keep its economy growing after COVID, but also adds to infrastructure and housing strains. Indeed, analysts in Australia point out that the recent housing boom owes much to high immigration and supply shortfalls. So while Aussies enjoy a bigger economy and higher living standards, they too must grapple with rising rents and house prices — in cities like Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, property values rose 8–22% in the last year.

Summary of Key Figures

• New Zealand outflow: ~47.3k Kiwis left for Australia in 2024 vs 17.3k arrivals from Australia. Net loss ≈30k (largest since 2012).
• NZ net migration: +27.1k in 2024 (provisional), driven by +54.1k from rest of world, so NZ pop grew ~0.9% to 5.311m.
• Australian departures: ~221k people left Australia in 2023–24, up 8%; about 84k were Australian citizens.
• Australian destinations: ~23% of Aussie emigrants go to NZ, 19% to UK, 18% to USA.
• Australian arrivals: 667k arrivals in 2023–24; net +340.8k migration.
• Australia population: 27.40m at end-2024 (up 1.7% in a year); NZ’s is 5.31m (up 0.9%).
• Median earnings: ~NZ$1,343/week in NZ (Jun 2024) vs A$1,396/week in Australia (Aug 2024).
• Housing costs: Median Sydney house ~$1.65m AUD vs Auckland ~$1.0m NZD; rents roughly double in Sydney vs Auckland.
• Economy: Australia’s economy is ~5× NZ’s, with more job sectors and stronger wage growth, but both face housing supply shortfalls (inflating home prices).

In short, 30,000 Kiwis a year migrating to Australia reflects the interplay of these factors. Better pay and broader opportunities draw New Zealanders across the Tasman, but high Australian living costs mean the move pays off only for many in higher-earning jobs or with family support. Observers caution that unless New Zealand addresses the underlying economic weaknesses (wage stagnation, housing shortages, etc.), the exodus could continue.

Sources: Official migration and population data from Stats NZ and the Australian Bureau of Statistics, supplemented by media reports and economic analyses. All figures quoted are as released by those sources.

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