1 00:00:00,360 --> 00:00:03,440 Speaker 1: So in April last year, it was announced New Zealander's 2 00:00:03,480 --> 00:00:06,960 Speaker 1: living in Australia suddenly afforded similar rights to Australians who 3 00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:08,600 Speaker 1: live in New Zealand when it comes to having a 4 00:00:08,640 --> 00:00:11,760 Speaker 1: pathway to citizenship. The change meant that from the first 5 00:00:11,760 --> 00:00:14,160 Speaker 1: of July twenty twenty three, New Zealanders who have lived 6 00:00:14,200 --> 00:00:17,160 Speaker 1: in Aussie for four years on temporary or special category 7 00:00:17,239 --> 00:00:21,200 Speaker 1: visas and met the standard Australian citizenship criteria, they could 8 00:00:21,200 --> 00:00:24,200 Speaker 1: apply for citizenship. So Kiwi's who've been living in Australia 9 00:00:24,239 --> 00:00:27,080 Speaker 1: since two thousand and one could apply directly for citizenship 10 00:00:27,160 --> 00:00:31,360 Speaker 1: without gaining permanent residency. First, Kiwi children born in Australia 11 00:00:31,400 --> 00:00:34,519 Speaker 1: will become citizens at birth, rather than waiting till they 12 00:00:34,600 --> 00:00:38,680 Speaker 1: turn ten. It was a game changer for kiwi's already 13 00:00:38,680 --> 00:00:42,080 Speaker 1: living in Australia, but the question of whether it would 14 00:00:42,080 --> 00:00:44,760 Speaker 1: contribute to a brain drain like the one we saw 15 00:00:44,840 --> 00:00:50,280 Speaker 1: in twenty eleven and twenty twelve was yet to be seen. Yeah, 16 00:00:50,320 --> 00:00:53,760 Speaker 1: So today Stats New Zealand released their provisional data for 17 00:00:53,800 --> 00:00:58,360 Speaker 1: annual migration figures for the year ending in August. Migrant 18 00:00:58,560 --> 00:01:01,400 Speaker 1: arrivals were down seventeen percent to one hundred and eighty 19 00:01:01,400 --> 00:01:04,959 Speaker 1: eight thousand, one hundred. But the surprising figure and all 20 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:08,039 Speaker 1: this was the number of migrant departures, which was up 21 00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:11,280 Speaker 1: thirty seven percent to one hundred and thirty four thousand. 22 00:01:11,760 --> 00:01:15,040 Speaker 1: Out of those one hundred and thirty four thousand departures, 23 00:01:15,959 --> 00:01:19,400 Speaker 1: eighty one thousand, two hundred of them were Kiwi citizens. 24 00:01:20,560 --> 00:01:23,440 Speaker 1: That figure one hundred and thirty four thousand, I think 25 00:01:23,480 --> 00:01:25,360 Speaker 1: it was one hundred and thirty four thousand, three hundred 26 00:01:25,360 --> 00:01:30,360 Speaker 1: migrant departures is provisionally the highest on record for an 27 00:01:30,440 --> 00:01:35,720 Speaker 1: annual period. This is not good news. So yeah, those 28 00:01:35,760 --> 00:01:38,360 Speaker 1: new regulations in Australia probably did have an impact or 29 00:01:38,440 --> 00:01:40,960 Speaker 1: at least act as a tipping point that has sent 30 00:01:41,280 --> 00:01:45,199 Speaker 1: some Kiwis on their way. In the year ending March 31 00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:48,760 Speaker 1: twenty twenty four, fifty three percent of New Zealand citizen 32 00:01:48,800 --> 00:01:51,800 Speaker 1: migrant departures were to Australia. But of course they're not 33 00:01:51,800 --> 00:01:55,320 Speaker 1: just heading off to Australia, They're going everywhere. Post COVID. 34 00:01:55,440 --> 00:01:57,559 Speaker 1: The pressure has been on the Government of the day 35 00:01:57,600 --> 00:02:01,000 Speaker 1: to convince people New Zealand is a great place to 36 00:02:01,120 --> 00:02:04,680 Speaker 1: live and work, not just to keep talented Kiwis at 37 00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:07,920 Speaker 1: home or encourage them to return, but to attract the 38 00:02:08,000 --> 00:02:11,040 Speaker 1: many skilled workers we currently need at a time when 39 00:02:11,040 --> 00:02:13,160 Speaker 1: the rest of the world is in pursuit of those 40 00:02:13,160 --> 00:02:18,200 Speaker 1: same workers. This has not been achieved. The net migration 41 00:02:18,320 --> 00:02:20,920 Speaker 1: gain in the last year to the end of August 42 00:02:21,120 --> 00:02:24,720 Speaker 1: was fifty three eight hundred. It was down sharply on 43 00:02:24,800 --> 00:02:28,440 Speaker 1: the gain of around just over sixty seven thousand for 44 00:02:28,560 --> 00:02:33,359 Speaker 1: the July year. Economists are concerned this may lead to 45 00:02:33,480 --> 00:02:37,040 Speaker 1: zero net migration next year, which could impact the economy's 46 00:02:37,080 --> 00:02:40,520 Speaker 1: actual and potential growth rates, the balance of our labor market, 47 00:02:40,520 --> 00:02:44,040 Speaker 1: pressures expect the tax take, and of course the housing market. 48 00:02:45,520 --> 00:02:49,880 Speaker 1: I don't know how to convince someone who sees a 49 00:02:49,880 --> 00:02:53,560 Speaker 1: better job, a better income, a better lifestyle somewhere else 50 00:02:54,040 --> 00:02:57,960 Speaker 1: to stay. Providing them with the same or close opportunity 51 00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:01,280 Speaker 1: here in New Zealand is most likely the only solution 52 00:03:01,440 --> 00:03:04,440 Speaker 1: to the discontent that has settled over the country. But 53 00:03:04,520 --> 00:03:08,600 Speaker 1: how likely is that? The government is working hard to 54 00:03:08,680 --> 00:03:11,960 Speaker 1: get this country back on track, and it could hardly 55 00:03:12,040 --> 00:03:15,359 Speaker 1: work faster. But it is going to take time, I 56 00:03:15,480 --> 00:03:17,480 Speaker 1: tell you what, though the government will be hoping this 57 00:03:17,600 --> 00:03:20,120 Speaker 1: is as bad as these figures get and a turnaround 58 00:03:20,320 --> 00:03:23,519 Speaker 1: is on the horizon for those of us still here, 59 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:28,440 Speaker 1: I certainly hope so. For more from Hither Duplessy Allen Drive, 60 00:03:28,600 --> 00:03:31,960 Speaker 1: listen live to news talks it'd be from four pm weekdays, 61 00:03:32,120 --> 00:03:34,320 Speaker 1: or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.