Nothing to lose: Covid economic wreckage drives brain drain
An online community for New Zealanders planning to move to Australia has had consistent numbers of inquiries since the lockdown, and its co-ordinator expects a surge now the transTasman bubble is fully operating.
Last week the Sunday StarTimes received an overwhelming response to an article discussing whether the country was on the eve of a ‘‘brain drain’’ to Australia.
Johanna Smith, a New Zealander who has lived in Australia previously, has run the web forum movingtoaustralia.co.nz since 2008. The forum provides advice to people wanting to make the move. Smith said it was no surprise Kiwis were looking for better lives across the ditch.
‘‘I expected with Covid-19 for interest to drop-off, but I’ve had inquiries the whole time through lockdown. People are still wanting to go over . . . it’s been consistent,’’ Smith, who is now Auckland-based, said. ‘‘Kiwis have always seen it as ‘the grass is greener’.’’
Smith and her husband moved to Australia from New Zealand for business opportunities when she was pregnant with their first child about 2008.
Despite moving back to New Zealand for family reasons, Smith has continued operating the website as she enjoys helping Kiwi families with their moves to Australia.
‘‘I guess a lot of people’s lives in
New Zealand have fallen over,’’ Smith said. ‘‘People who have lost everything who have always considered moving, it’s like, what have you got to lose now?’’
The cost of living was ‘‘definitely’’ lower in Australia, Smith said, and the warmer climate was also a bonus. ‘‘The lifestyle is amazing, you can afford a house and you won’t be paying it off the rest of your life.’’
Higher wages also meant student loans could be paid off faster.
‘‘Now it’s not just the young single people, it’s the families that are also in this position where they’ve got nothing to lose. The affordability of living in Australia is so attractive,’’ she said.
Smith reckoned interest would only increase.
‘‘It’s going to ramp up . . . there’s always been that interest, and will always be that interest. It’s definitely increasing at moment.’’