New Zealand has been described by some as just an extension of Australia. Being neighbours, with similar flags, indigenous culture, and landscapes, the statement is not far from the truth.
There are nearly half a million Kiwis currently living in Australia – that’s more than the total population of Wellington. On average, more than 20,000 Kiwis move to Australia annually. Interestingly, many Australians are now taking the opposite route back to New Zealand.
Let’s take a look at possible reasons why Kiwis are flowing into Australia in their numbers …
The Weather
The weather in Australia is considered very desirable to most Kiwi emigrants. With New Zealand having a nearly round-the-year rainy and cold weather, Australia’s hot climate is a breath of fresh air to some. The weather is just as unpredictable in Australia as it is in New Zealand, but in some places such as Brisbane, you can get up to 283 days of sunshine in a year. Other capital cities like Sydney and Melbourne also record a sunny climate which most Kiwis are delighted to get used to.
The Wildlife
The scariest animal in New Zealand, and about the only animal the country is known for, is the Kiwi bird. This is unlike Australia that has a rich wildlife offering. Impressive creatures such as the kangaroo, koala, and wombats, among others, attract thousands of tourists to the country each year. Australia is also home to more than 20 of the most dangerous creatures on the planet such as the box jellyfish, the eastern brown snake, the red-back spider, the blue-ringed octopus, and bull sharks. While New Zealand is known for its cool mountains, Australia’s parks and nature reserves are quite enticing.
The Wine
Aussies love their wine more than New Zealanders! There are about 60 designated wine regions in Australia producing more than 1.3 trillion bottles of wine yearly – making it the fifth-highest producer of wine in the world. On the other hand, New Zealand is also remarkable in wine production. With prominent labels like the Cloudy Bay, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail for wine-loving tourists; the country is the fifteenth top producer of wine in the world.
The Beaches
This is probably the loveliest thing about Australia. There are more than 10,000 beaches in Australia. In fact, if you were to visit a new beach every day in Australia, it would take you about 29 years to go round. From Bondi Beach to sailing Whitsundays around Whitehaven Island, Cable Beach, and Bells Beach amongst others, you will certainly have a great time touring the beautiful and picturesque beaches the country has to offer. New Zealand has great beaches too – the likes of Cathedral Cove, Ninety Mile Beach, Medlands, Sandfly Bay and more than 400 others.
Better Pay
While the cost of living in Australia is a bit higher than that of New Zealand, especially in big cities such as Sydney and Melbourne; Australia pays higher. There are also better job opportunities in Australia than in New Zealand. When you compare Melbourne and Wellington, you will find that workers comfortably take care of bills in the former rather than in the latter. Given that Australia is already developed, the tax is much reduced too, unlike in New Zealand. Australia also ranks higher on the world Human Development Index.
Better Lifestyle
Being a continent that is about five times the size of New Zealand in population and also better developed, Australia generally has a much better lifestyle. With better music, food, and art offerings, you will easily adapt as a Kiwi. Australia is about the sports capital of the world, with many international sporting activities taking place in the country all year round. In terms of culture, while the Maori are better accepted in New Zealand than the Aboriginals are accepted in Australia, there are more colourful cultural festivals in Australia.
Ease of Movement
It is much easier to move from New Zealand to Australia than it is from the latter to the former. In fact, as a Kiwi, you can visit, work and live in Australia without a tourist or work visa. As a Kiwi migrant to Australia, there are many benefits you stand to enjoy, unlike other migrants. It is also very easy to move property from New Zealand to cities in Australia such as Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide. (Visit https://www.ausmove.co.nz/moving-to-australia)
Better Phone Services
Service providers are more generous in Australia than in New Zealand. Telecom companies in the continent offer great data plans with unlimited texting, calling and other fantastic offers. For the same cost, you will get far less service in New Zealand. So if you are comfortable with the phone service in Auckland or Wellington, you will be mind-blown in Australia. You get free Wi-Fi in nearly every proper establishment in the country unlike in New Zealand.
These are the possible eight reasons why thousands of Kiwis migrate to Australia every year. There could be many other reasons but they will inevitably centre around the better life Australia offers. With the recent positive developments in New Zealand, however, statistics show a significant drop in the number of emigrants and an actual increase in the number of people coming into the country. Reports also indicate that more Aussies are coming to New Zealand to live. Hopefully, in a few years to come, more Kiwis will return home.
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