New Zealand saw a net migration loss of 27,000 people to Australia last year
According to population indicators manager Tehseen Islam, the net loss of people leaving New Zealand for Australia in 2023 was nearly double the 14,600 in 2022.
The net migration loss for 2023 was made up of 44,500 migrant departures across the ditch and 17,500 arrivals from Australia.
"However, it should be noted that this is below the record loss of 43,700 in the March 2012 year," Islam said.
He also said that "traditionally", New Zealand has seen net migration loss to Australia, averaging around 30,000 a year during 2004–2013 and 3,000 a year during 2014–2019.
"The annual record for migrant departures to Australia was 62,800 in the June 2012 year," Islam said.
According to the data, Kiwis heading to Australia were the "main driver" of trans-Tasman migration in 2023, “reflecting a long-standing historical pattern".
Last year, people with New Zealand passports made up 84% of the departures to Australia. They also made up 61% of those arriving from Australia.
NZ citizens leaving
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For the year ended May 2024, New Zealand's net migration figure was 82,800.
There was net gain of nearly 143,000 non-NZ citizens.
There was a net migration loss of 60,100 NZ citizens - with 85,600 departing and 25,500 returning.
That departure of NZ citizens was a new record, as was the net migration loss, Stats NZ said.
International departures 'highest on record'
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Looking at migration in general, Stats NZ said New Zealand saw 138,600 migrant departures in the May 2024 year, which is provisionally "the highest on record for any annual period".
Migrant arrivals were 221,400.
For migrant arrivals in May 2024, the largest group were citizens of India at 46,400. This was followed by citizens of the Philippines (28,600), New Zealand (25,500), China (23,500), Fiji (9800), South Africa (7000), Sri Lanka (6600), and the United Kingdom (6300).
For departures, the largest group was New Zealand citizens with 85,600 leaving. This was followed by citizens from China (7900), the UK (5700), Australia (5200), India (4300) and the United States (3500).
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Poll: Are our Kiwi summer holidays helping us recharge, or holding the economy back? ☀️🥝
There’s growing debate about whether New Zealand’s extended Christmas break (and the slowdown that comes with it) affects productivity.
Tracy Watkins has weighed in ... now it’s your turn. What’s your take? 🤔
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73.1% We work hard, we deserve a break!
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16.2% Hmm, maybe?
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10.7% Yes!
Brain Teaser of the Day 🧠✨ Can You Solve It? 🤔💬
How many balls of string does it take to reach the moon?
(Peter from Carterton kindly provided this head-scratcher ... thanks, Peter!)
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Minimum wage to increase from April next year, Govt commits to bigger rise than last year
The Government will increase the minimum wage by 2% from April next year.
Workplace Relations Minister Brooke Van Velden announced the hourly wage would move from the current $23.50 to $23.95 in line with advice from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
“Moderate” increases of the minimum wage formed part of NZ First’s coalition agreement with National.
Van Velden says the new rate, which would impact around 122,500 New Zealand workers, strikes a right balance between keeping up with the cost of living – the Reserve Bank expects inflation to fall to around 2% by mid-2026 – and no adding more pressure to the costs of running a business.
The starting out and training minimum wage would be move to $19.16 to remain at 80% of the adult minimum wage.
The minimum wage was last increased on April 1 this year. That 1.5% increased to $23.50, affecting between 80,000 and 145,000 workers, was not at the time in line with inflation which sat around 2.5% in March.
“I know those pressures have made it a tough time to do business, which is why we have taken this balanced approach. With responsible economic management, recovery and relief is coming,” Van Velden said.
“I am pleased to deliver this moderate increase to the minimum wage that reflects this Government’s commitment to growing the economy, boosting incomes and supporting Kiwis in jobs throughout New Zealand.”
Official documents from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) show the department provided the Minister with seven options for the minimum wage, ranging from maintaining the current rate or increasing by 3% up to $24.20 per hour.
A 2% increase was recommended, the Ministry said, as this was ”considered to best balance the two limbs of the objective - protecting the real income of low-paid workers and minimising job losses."
“CPI inflation forecasts suggest annual inflation will ease to be within the 2–2.5% range in the first half of 2026 and remain relatively stable at around 2% from June 2026 through to 2028.
“These forecasts indicate that a 2% increase would largely maintain the real income of minimum wage workers relative to the level of the minimum wage when it last increased on 1 April 2025.”
Officials said a 2% increase wouldn’t have significant employment restraint effects.
But given recent economic data, including a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) contraction and elevated unemployment, MBIE said it favoured a “cautious approach”.
“A 2% increase to the adult minimum wage is expected to affect approximately 122,500 workers, including those currently earning at or below the minimum wage, or between the current rate and $23.95.”
The key groups that would be impacted include youth, part-time, female, and Māori workers, as well as sectors like tourism, horticulture, agriculture, cleaning, hospitality, and retail.
“While these workers would benefit from a wage increase, they may also be more exposed to employer responses to increased labour costs such as reduced hours or adjustments to non-wage benefits,” the ministry said
“The estimated fiscal cost to government from this increase is relatively modest, at $17.5 million annually, consistent with the small cost estimates across all rate options.”
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