Kiwis seek greener pastures in Australia

Friday 14 November 2025

On Thursday, Stats NZ released data showing that 12,400 net migrants arrived in the year to September 2025, down from a net gain of 42,400 in the September 2024 year.

The current migration inflow is also well below the circa 130,000 peak in 2023 and is below the decade average annual net inflow of about 50,000.

The net migration gain in the year to September 2025 was the lowest for a September year since 2013 (excluding 2021 and 2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic).

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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.