Kiwis flock to Australia in record numbers

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Created on Tuesday, 22 May 2012 16:42

Written by Editorial staff

New Zealanders are flocking to Australia in record numbers, new figures have revealed.

According to Statistics New Zealand, during the 12 months to April 2012, 53,500 migrants departed from New Zealand for Australia. This was offset by an estimated 13,700 arrivals from Australia, for a total net loss to New Zealand of 39,800 migrants during the past 12 months.

"Annual outflows to Australia have been at record levels since the November 2011 year," said a May 21 Statistics New Zealand statement.

For nearly a century, New Zealanders and Australians have been living in both countries under various visa arrangements - and under the current Special Category Visa (SCV) system, any New Zealand citizen who holds a valid passport with the correct stamp showing their date of arrival in Australia and an electronic SCV can live and work lawfully in Australia.

According to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC), the flow of New Zealand migrants into Australia is a signal of "economic buoyancy".

And while New Zealand citizens are generally not considered to be part of Australia's annual migration program by DIAC, figures on their labour force participation are interesting to consider.  Some 76.9 per cent of New Zealanders in Australia are working, compared with 68.5 per cent of those born in Australia, according to DIAC figures.

The department also estimates that in 2009-10, approximately one-quarter of New Zealand migrants settled in NSW, while 35.8 per cent chose to live in Queensland and 20.7 per cent settled in Victoria.

Non-New Zealand internationals who want to come to Australia to live and work have a number of pathways to do so - but with significant changes on the horizon in the form of the new SkillSelect permanent migration program, as well as a newly announced Temporary Residence Transition Stream for eligible 457 visa holders, it is important for migration agents, employers and employees to ensure they have all the facts.

In the run-up to July 1 - when the changes are set to take effect - the DIAC is hosting a range of information sessions in regional areas across the country so individuals can get the information they need on the new immigration reforms.

According to the DIAC, the new 2012-13 Budget created an additional 3,400 spaces to the skilled migration program alone - bringing the total allocation to 129,350 spaces.