‘Brain drain’ sees young Kiwis flee to Australia

Thursday 12 June 2025

Stats New Zealand released data showing that net overseas migration (NOM) fell to 21,300 for the year ending April 2025, a decline from 90,900 a year earlier.

This represented a 2½ year low for NOM, driven by slowing arrivals of non-NZ citizens and elevated departures.

“Easing arrivals and strengthening departures of non-NZ citizens and still-sizeable net departures of NZ citizens reflect the relatively weak position of the NZ economy”, noted major bank ASB.

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About the author

Leith van Onselen is Chief Economist at the MB Fund and MB Super. He is also a co-founder of MacroBusiness. Leith has previously worked at the Australian Treasury, Victorian Treasury and Goldman Sachs.