Considering relocating to Australia from New Zealand? You’re not alone! In June 2021, there were over 559,980 New Zealand-born people living in Australia and this number has only likely grown over the last two years. But why are so many people crossing the Tasman Sea to Australia? The team at Allied New Zealand look into why Kiwis are choosing to relocate to Australia.
Reasons why more Kiwis are relocating to Australia in 2023
Although the decision to relocate to Australia from New Zealand tends to be a personal one, there are a wide range of reasons why many Kiwis choose to make the leap. We have listed some of the common reasons.
Easier citizenship pathways
The Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement has been in place since 1973 and has enabled both Australian and New Zealand citizens to easily work and reside in each country. Following an announcement in April, the Australian Government has recently introduced a new direct pathway for New Zealanders to be able to apply for citizenship. From the 1st of July, Special Category Visa holders will be able to apply directly for citizenship without having to become permanent residents first. This is subject to a four-residence requirement and other eligibility criteria.
This pathway means New Zealanders make it easier to become an Australian Citizen and access the associated benefits including voting rights, increased social security and eligibility for higher education loans like HECs and HELP. Before you move, ensure that you have the right documentation to relocate to Australia.
Cost of living crisis
As many Kiwis are feeling the squeeze of economic pressures, including rising food costs, it doesn’t come as much of a surprise that New Zealand is now reported to be entering a recession which Australia is currently avoiding. Because of intense price hikes in everyday living expenses, more Kiwis are considering whether it is beneficial to make the move to Australia.
Although it is 13.8% more expensive, Australia has the advantage of higher average reported salaries which can help to offset the expenses. The Australian Dollar (AUD) is also slightly stronger than the New Zealand Dollar (NZD), at the time of writing, NZD$1 to AUD$0.9.
Increased career opportunities
Aside from the higher salaries, Australia can offer a wider range of career opportunities than New Zealand. Some of the biggest industries in Australia in terms of scale of employment include professional services (such as consulting, engineering, and accounting), healthcare, education, and the production and distribution of consumer goods. The majority of Oceanic branches of large corporations tend to be headquartered in Australia over New Zealand.
Familiar culture
Moving to Australia offers the benefits and excitement of a new country, while still being relatively familiar to New Zealand. As both countries were colonised by the United Kingdom, there are many similarities between the two cultures. Australia and New Zealand also both drive on the left-hand side of the road (which makes bringing your car over easy), as well as enjoy similar sports and participate in many outdoor activities. However, there are still some cultural differences which can be surprising - you can learn more about these differences in our blog post, Australia vs New Zealand Culture Differences.