New Zealand

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New Zealands Brain-Drain
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Between 1976 and 1980 320,000 New Zealanders
emigrated to other countries.
Between 1986 and 1990 nearly 310,000 New
Zealanders emigrated to other countries.
It was during these two time periods that New
Zealand suffered its heaviest net migration
losses.
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Profile of a typical migrant from New Zealand
during these times

• Aged between
• 20 - 39

• Skilled or
• professionally
• qualified

• Destination
• Australia

Gidday mate.
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Pull factors

• Lots of job opportunities

• Higher wages and salaries

Push Factors

• Warmer climate

X Unemployment
X High mortgage interest rates
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Since the late 1990s thousands of young New
Zealanders have migrated overseas.
They have moved because of a variety of reasons
including
X Lower wages
X High student loan debt
X Limited career opportunities
Australia and the United Kingdom have been the
main destinations for people leaving New Zealand.
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In 2001 there were 8 times more New Zealanders in
Australia than there were Australians living in
New Zealand.
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But has it really been a brain drain?
Since the 1980s more than 500,000 New Zealanders
have returned to our shores. New Zealand has
benefitted from the experience and expertise that
these people gained in other countries.
Or, has it simply been a brain exchange?
Migration statistics suggest that New Zealand has
gained as many highly skilled migrants from other
countries as it has lost through emigration.