Kiwi Retirees Moving Home to New Zealand from Australia

Kiwi’s retiring from Australia back to New Zealand in greater numbers than ever before 

More Kiwis than ever are choosing to move home to New Zealand from Australia and that includes retiree’s who moved over to Australia for work or lifestyle opportunities and then choose to spend their retirement years back home.

*** UPDATE: BUDGET SELF PACK CONTAINERS IS NOT CURRENTLY SERVICING MOVES TO NEW ZEALAND ***

Statistical analysis of New Zealanders living in Australia 

For a large part of the 2000s and early 2010’s, there was a steady stream of Kiwi’s flooding into Australia, however, the latest data shows the tide is turning. While the period between 2007 - 2011 showed the highest rate of Kiwi-born residents living in Australia (93,933), data from 2012 - 2016 shows a drop down to 35,068 Kiwi-born residents living in Australia - that’s a drop of almost ⅔ in the level of growth. While in 2012 there was a net loss of about 40,000 New Zealand residents to Australia, in 2016 there was a net gain of 1,933. The huge difference between these numbers show not only are less Kiwi’s leaving New Zealand for Australia but also large numbers of Kiwi’s are returning home to New Zealand from Australia.* 

So why the change in migration patterns? A major contributing factor is the quality of life in New Zealand is now considered on a par with or (by some) superior to that in Australia. In the late 90’s many Kiwi’s were disillusioned with high unemployment rates, low wages and dissatisfaction with the political situation in New Zealand. Fast forward to now and we find the New Zealand economy in a comfortable and optimistic place, the NZ dollar to the Australian dollar is far healthier than in the late ’90s and the unemployment rate is now less in New Zealand (4.6%) than in Australia (5.5%).** For the past 30 or so years, wages in Australia have been almost 30% more in Australia than in New Zealand and there were far more jobs to be had but that has changed now with the Australian unemployment rate soaring higher than the New Zealand rate; suddenly there’s less and less reason to move to Australia for the job situation.

The benefits of Kiwi-born residents (living in Australia), retiring in New Zealand

In 2001 there were some changes made to the social security arrangement held between Australia and New Zealand, pertaining to the payment of pensions to New Zealand citizens in Australia. For New Zealand citizens arriving in Australia after 2001, they were required to obtain a permanent resident visa to obtain Australian citizenship. This is required to be eligible for pension payments from the Australian government (if applicable; they are means-tested). 

If you are a New Zealand citizen living in Australia at the time of retirement you will not be eligible to receive any pension payments from the New Zealand government (which is not means-tested).

For many people New Zealanders living in Australia who have diligently saved up a reasonable super fund which renders them ineligible for the Australian pension, it is a tempting proposition to move home in order to receive the New Zealand pension.

The easiest way to move your household contents from Australia to New Zealand

If you've made the decision to relocate back to New Zealand from Australia you'll be looking for an international removalist that you can trust and who doesn't charge the earth to move your home contents internationally. There are many companies to choose from to do the job but if you're looking for a way to move your home contents that is cheap, reliable and hassle-free then international container removals are the way to go. An empty 20ft shipping container will be delivered to your door in Australia. You pack it at your own speed. When you're done loading the container is picked up and transported to New Zealand where it will be delivered to your door again, ready for you to unload. You can read more about shipping container removals for seniors here

What will it cost me to move my home contents back to New Zealand?

Moving from Brisbane to Auckland

Moving from Brisbane to Christchurch

Moving from Sydney to Auckland

Moving from Sydney to Christchurch

Moving from Melbourne to Auckland

Moving from Melbourne to Christchurch

Moving from Perth to Auckland

Moving from Perth to Christchurch

To find out what it will cost you to move a 20ft removalist spec moving container full of your household contents from your Australian home to your new home in New Zealand, give our office a call. We can prepare your quote including door-to-door delivery, insurance, customs procedures, and container loading advice. Call us today on 1300 659 221 or fill in our online quote form here.

*Migration data obtained from the Australian Census 2016 & Statistics New Zealand’s “Permanent and Long Term Migration Data”

**Employment rate statistic obtained from countryeconomy.com

Photos sourced here, here, here and here