Moving to New Zealand: Reasons and patterns of settlement

Why did migrants move to New Zealand?

 
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Qualitative information on reasons for moving to New Zealand was collected using an open-ended verbal question. The responses were an exact record of the reasons provided. A set of classifications was established to group the variety of responses received: social, education, employment, economic, housing, environment, political/cultural, and other.

Table 3

Main Reason for Moving to New Zealand
By country of birth
March 2007 quarter
Main reason County of birth
New Zealand Overseas
Percent
Social 35.1 32.4
Education - 22.7
Employment 10.3 16.9
Economic - -
Housing - -
Environment 7.3 12.5
Political/cultural/other 41.3 15.1
Main reasons stated 100.0 100.0

Symbol: - Figure not available due to low response for the category.

Returning New Zealanders and the overseas-born were about equally likely to cite social reasons for moving to New Zealand (one-third of all reasons provided). Social reasons were most common among the overseas-born, while a large proportion of returning New Zealanders (41 percent) stated they were returning from work or travel overseas. Among the overseas-born, education and employment reasons were also important, followed by (but to a lesser extent) environment.

Table 4

Main Reason for Moving to New Zealand by Country of Previous Residence
For overseas born
March 2007 quarter
Country of previous residence Most common main reasons ranked
First Second Third
Australia Social Other -
Pacific Social Employment Education
UK Environment Social Other
Other Europe - - -
Asia Education* Social Employment
North America - - -
Other Social Employment -

Symbol:
- Result not available due to low response for the category.
* Result should be used with caution due to high sample error for the category.

Among the overseas-born, those from Australia, the Pacific, and ‘other’ countries were more likely to cite social factors as their reason for moving to New Zealand, while those from the UK considered the environment more important than social factors. Education-related, rather than social-related motivators, were more important for movers from Asian countries.

Table 5

Main Reason for Moving to New Zealand by Age Group
For overseas born
March 2007 quarter
Age group (years) Most common main reasons ranked
First Second Third
Under 20 Social - -
20–29 Social Education Employment
30–39 Social Employment Environment
40–49 Education Social Environment
50+ Social - -

Symbol: - Result not available due to low response for the category.

Although social reasons dominated among all age groups, education-related factors were most important for the 40- to 49-year-olds born overseas who moved to New Zealand between the March 2005 and 2007 quarters. People in this age group may already have gained considerable work experience and may want to seek new opportunities and advancements in career development, and better education opportunities for their children. Environment-related factors were also important for those in the 30–39 and 40–49 age groups.

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