Kiwis urged to think twice about Queensland, as more people look to come home

Author: Michael Sergel,
Publish Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2026, 5:00am

A Queensland community organisation is warning New Zealanders to think very carefully before moving to Australia as it deals with a growing number of New Zealanders wanting to move home.

The number of New Zealand citizens leaving Queensland for New Zealand and other countries rose 5.7% last year, according to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

The number of New Zealand citizens arriving into Queensland from New Zealand and offshore dropped 1.1% after steadily rising in recent years.

Across the whole of Australia, New Zealand migrant departures rose 4.5%, while New Zealand migrant arrivals fell slightly from the peak reached in 2024.

Vicky Rose, the general manager of the Gold Coast’s Nerang Neighbourhood Centre, said it receives regular inquiries from New Zealand citizens wanting to return home and it’s seen a “noticeable increase in these conversations over the past year”.

“The advice I would give to any New Zealander considering a move to Australia is to undertake thorough research and ensure they have sufficient savings and a realistic contingency plan.

“While Australia can offer amazing opportunities, the current housing market and cost-of-living pressures mean that arriving without adequate financial resources can place people in a very vulnerable position.”

Rose said New Zealanders living in Queensland don’t have access to the housing assistance and other government-funded support services available to Australian citizens and permanent residents, which left them with fewer options if they faced a hardship or crisis.

“The people most at risk are often those who arrive without sufficient financial reserves, have insecure or casual employment, or experience an unexpected life event such as relationship breakdown, illness or injury, job loss, or family violence.”

The centre explored all available options with each individual, Rose said, including referring people to Australian government-funded repatriation providers like Homeward Bound or, in some exceptional cases, providing funding through its limited emergency relief funding processes.

“Many people contact us for advice well before making a decision, wanting to understand what support may be available and what the process would involve.

“Returning to New Zealand is rarely someone’s first choice, but for some it often becomes the most practical and sustainable pathway when they have exhausted other avenues of support in Australia.”

Latest Stats NZ data shows a gradual decline in the number of New Zealanders leaving and a steady rise in the number of New Zealanders returning.

New Zealand is continuing to lag behind Australia for wages but our economy is now growing faster than Australia’s.

Prime Minister Chris Luxon told Newstalk ZB Australia’s competitive job market and housing shortage were prompting many New Zealanders to return home.

Michael Sergel is Newstalk ZB’s business reporter, covering the daily life of business and the business of daily life. He’s been covering business, politics, local government and consumer affairs for over a decade.