Aussie exodus hits new record

The exodus of migrants to Australia hit a record in the past year, while tourist numbers from northern Asia are slumping badly because of the global economic slowdown.

Australia's stronger economy is an increasingly large safety valve for Kiwi workers in tougher times.

In the past 12 months, the number leaving to live or work in Australia would fill Wellington's Westpac Stadium, with another 800 standing outside.

The net loss to Australia in the past year was 35,300 almost 100 people a day. That is the biggest exodus on record. Previous peaks in migrants came after the 1987 share crash and in the late 1970s.

New Zealand gained 3600 permanent or long-term residents in the past 12 months.

In November alone, 600 more people left New Zealand than arrived. That is a bad sign for an already struggling housing market, with Westpac economists expecting house prices to fall by another 5 per cent next year.

Tourism is also facing a tougher year. The industry employs one in 10 workers in New Zealand and some economists expect the sector to be badly affected by the global recession, cutting into the $1 million an hour that overseas tourists spend here.

Tourist arrivals in November were down 4 per cent on the same month last year. But there was a 46 per cent dive in Japanese tourists for the month. South Korean and Chinese visitor numbers also fell sharply.

Tourism New Zealand chief executive George Hickton said he expected tourism to be down by 6 per cent or so in the peak summer season. "But our concern would be from March, the low season, as bookings are quite light.

"We will have to batten down the hatches to get through a tougher time."

New Zealand would get some benefit from the big fall in the kiwi dollar, which meant tourists typically spent more while they were in New Zealand. Lower world oil prices would also eventually result in lower air fares.

In November, tourist numbers were down sharply because Japanese parents cancelled school charter flights for 6000 children after the high New Zealand dollar pushed up the cost of thetrip.

But Tourism Industry Association chief executive Tim Cossar said the fall in the dollar meant New Zealand was a good value holiday destination.

Backpacker hostels, holiday parks and motels were so far unaffected by the recession, but bookings "were looking tough" after February, he said.

However, the domestic tourist market was still strong and Australian tourist numbers were holding up.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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AKL   #6   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

I personally think that there are many people who will always think that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. I personally think NZ has so many things going for it socially and economically that many people start to take them for granted and think that AUS can do it better... You won't catch me moving over. :)

maureen m   #5   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

Interesting that so many left when it was obvious there would be a change of government; which goes to show that it is the higher wages, 9% employer contribution to superannuation and the blue skies that are motivating the move.

It is not the cost of Australian housing, the higher taxes, the compulsory medical insurance - Medicare, the distances you have to travel anywhere, the ongoing water crisis, the poisonous spiders and snakes or the heat putting them off moving across the ditch!

One thing the Aussies are is relentlessly positive, they don't call themselves "the lucky country" for nothing - it is all about attitude.

FreeBird   #4   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

I think the job opportunity and the pay level is the key factor here...Would you leave for OZ if you earning a comfortable amount of salary with a decent job here? I wouldn't...

Mallory McComish   #3   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

Aussie Exodus?

Australia and New Zealand should merge as a singular nation - mate, that would be corker, fair dinkum; the consummate unification. The land of the bach and the barbie, and gumboots and number 8 wire, kangaroos, koalas and kiwis - a country the world would admire. The realm of the bloke and the sheila, the home of the pie and the ute, where no-one's a whinger or piker cos everything's bonzer and beaut. A nation of cobbers Down Under, the home of the pav and the lamington and courses for thoroughbred horses, like Ellerslie, Randwick and Flemington. The country where she'll be right mate, the land of the try and the wicket, where nobody throws a sickie except when there's rugby and cricket. And whether in Dubbo or Palmy, or Darwin or Otorohanga, there's always a schooner or stubby when you're dry as a wry Wollongonger. But what should we name the great nation, from Gisborne to way beyond Alice? 'The United States of New Zealand' is suggested, without any malice. Mallory McComish

Joe   #2   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

....wow what a surprise. Half the population are beating their kids to death and live on free money while the other half are seeing sense and bailing out before this country sinks. Poor John Keyes.

don   #1   05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

The exodus of migrants to Australia hit a record in the past year,

And it will be far greater this year. Even some Australian migrants to here are moving back.

Last one out, turn of the lights.

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