ISSUE
Friday, August 22, 2025
Volume 16 . Issue 73
Be it Indo-Kiwi, Indian New Zealander or Kiwi Indian – all are New Zealanders of Indian or sub-continental heritage living in New Zealand.
Those terms include Indians born in New Zealand, Non-Resident Indians and Fiji Indians, Indians of African origin, Middle East, Europe, South Asia, the Indian subcontinent, East Asia, the Pacific Rim, or any New Zealander with at least one parent, grandparent or great grandparent with an Indian heritage.
Most early New Zealand Indians were of Punjabi or Gujarati descent. Indian New Zealanders are the fastest growing Kiwi ethnic group, and the second largest group of New Zealand Asians.
So much so that India has overtaken Britain, for the first time, as the main supplier of skilled migrants to New Zealand.
Figures from Immigration NZ show a dramatic drop in British residents moving here on skilled migrant visas.
In the 2004-05 year, 11,665 Brits moved here, making up 49 per cent of all skilled migrants. By last year, the number had fallen to 3183, or only 17 per cent.
India delivered 3291 skilled migrants last year, a rise driven partly by students staying on and becoming residents.
The Canterbury earthquakes, which put a dent in overseas fee-paying students, is now being predicted to increase the number of skilled migrants from India.
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment migration research manager Sankar Ramasamy said the rebuild would increase demand for specific skills, particularly in building professions and trades.
New Zealand Indian Central Association immigration committee chairman Prithipal Singh told Stuff the rising numbers were due to a large, well-educated young population in the subcontinent, looking to move for a better quality of life.
"You will see more and more of this happening."
It was also due to Indians studying in New Zealand then getting skilled migrant status, he said.
It was part of a worldwide trend, with the United States being the preferred place to emigrate, followed by Canada, Britain, Australia, "then probably New Zealand".
By 2025, New Zealand's total Asian population - including Indians - was expected to grow to 800,000, up from about 500,000 now.
Be it Indo-Kiwi, Indian New Zealander or Kiwi Indian – all are New Zealanders of Indian or sub-continental heritage living in New Zealand.
Those terms include Indians born in New Zealand, Non-Resident Indians and Fiji Indians, Indians of African origin, Middle East, Europe, South Asia, the...
Be it Indo-Kiwi, Indian New Zealander or Kiwi Indian – all are New Zealanders of Indian or sub-continental heritage living in New Zealand.
Those terms include Indians born in New Zealand, Non-Resident Indians and Fiji Indians, Indians of African origin, Middle East, Europe, South Asia, the Indian subcontinent, East Asia, the Pacific Rim, or any New Zealander with at least one parent, grandparent or great grandparent with an Indian heritage.
Most early New Zealand Indians were of Punjabi or Gujarati descent. Indian New Zealanders are the fastest growing Kiwi ethnic group, and the second largest group of New Zealand Asians.
So much so that India has overtaken Britain, for the first time, as the main supplier of skilled migrants to New Zealand.
Figures from Immigration NZ show a dramatic drop in British residents moving here on skilled migrant visas.
In the 2004-05 year, 11,665 Brits moved here, making up 49 per cent of all skilled migrants. By last year, the number had fallen to 3183, or only 17 per cent.
India delivered 3291 skilled migrants last year, a rise driven partly by students staying on and becoming residents.
The Canterbury earthquakes, which put a dent in overseas fee-paying students, is now being predicted to increase the number of skilled migrants from India.
Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment migration research manager Sankar Ramasamy said the rebuild would increase demand for specific skills, particularly in building professions and trades.
New Zealand Indian Central Association immigration committee chairman Prithipal Singh told Stuff the rising numbers were due to a large, well-educated young population in the subcontinent, looking to move for a better quality of life.
"You will see more and more of this happening."
It was also due to Indians studying in New Zealand then getting skilled migrant status, he said.
It was part of a worldwide trend, with the United States being the preferred place to emigrate, followed by Canada, Britain, Australia, "then probably New Zealand".
By 2025, New Zealand's total Asian population - including Indians - was expected to grow to 800,000, up from about 500,000 now.
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