Kiwis Leaving New Zealand In Record Numbers

New Zealand is experiencing a contrasting travel trend, with tourism booming while record numbers of its own citizens head offshore, newly released data shows.

Stats NZ reported that 1.48 million Australians visited New Zealand in the year ending September 2025, up from 1.33 million the previous year. It marks the second-highest annual arrival figure from Australia, surpassed only by the pre-pandemic 2019.

According to a report by RNZ, Bryan Downes, spokesperson for international travel statistics, said the rise was driven by increased flight capacity and a Tourism New Zealand marketing push launched earlier this year targeting Australian travellers.

Overall, total visitor arrivals reached 3.43 million, representing a 5.8% increase from the previous year. The United States, the United Kingdom and Japan also recorded significant growth in visitor numbers, reported RNZ.

Record departures of New Zealanders

However, while more tourists are arriving, more Kiwis are leaving.

Stats NZ’s latest migration figures show annual net migration gains fell to 12,400, a sharp drop from 42,400 in the previous year. The decline stems largely from a record net migration loss of 46,400 New Zealand citizens.

In total, 72,700 New Zealanders left the country in the year to September, most relocating to Australia, while 26,300 citizens returned.

By contrast, non-New Zealand citizens contributed a net migration gain of 58,800, with the largest arrival groups coming from China, India and the Philippines.

Government responds to growing exodus

Immigration Minister Erica Stanford said the outward flow of New Zealanders began in 2023 as the economy weakened, but she expected the trend to slow.

“Kiwis go overseas during tough economic cycles to seek better opportunities,” she said. “As the economy turns around, they come back; we’ve seen it before,” RNZ quoted.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis said the figures highlighted the need to accelerate economic growth.

“We need more jobs and opportunities here at home,” Willis said, adding that Australia’s long-standing economic edge should be a challenge New Zealand can overcome, as quoted by RNZ.

Opposition parties, however, blamed the government for creating conditions that push people away.

Green Party immigration spokesperson Ricardo Menéndez March called the exodus a “tragedy,” saying New Zealanders no longer saw a viable future at home. Labour Deputy Leader Carmel Sepuloni said high living costs, job losses, and a strained health system were driving citizens out, as reported by RNZ.

Tourism Minister Louise Upston echoed calls for economic growth, saying the departures underlined the urgency of improving job opportunities so “more Kiwis stay here.”

Conservation Minister Tama Potaka played down concerns, noting that many who leave eventually return.

“A lot of people go overseas and a lot of people come back,” he said. “I’m not too worried about that,” quoted RNZ.