New Zealanders in Australia

New Zealander Australians

Total population
Over 530,000
Regions with significant populations
Sydney · Melbourne · Brisbane · Perth
Languages
Australian English · New Zealand English · Maori

New Zealanders in Australia consist of Australian people who have origins in New Zealand, as well as New Zealand migrants and expatriates based in Australia. Migration from New Zealand to Australia is a very common phenomenon, given Australia's close proximity as a neighboring country. As of 2010, there were over 530,000 New Zealand citizens residing in Australia.^[1][2]

History and demographics

Under various arrangements since the 1920s, there has been a free flow of people between Australia and New Zealand.^[1] Since 1973 the informal Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement has allowed for the free movement of citizens of one nation to the other. The only major exception to these travel privileges is for individuals with outstanding warrants or criminal backgrounds who are deemed dangerous or undesirable for the migrant nation and its citizens. In recent decades, many New Zealanders have migrated to Australian cities such as Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth.^[3] New Zealand passport holders are issued with special category visas on arrival in Australia. Although this agreement is reciprocal there has been resulting significant net migration from New Zealand to Australia.^[4] In 2001 there were eight times more New Zealanders living in Australia than Australians living in New Zealand.^[5] Many such New Zealanders include Maori Australians.

New Zealanders in Australia previously had immediate access to Australian welfare benefits and were sometimes characterised as living off Australian social welfare benefits. This was in 2001 described by New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark as a "modern myth". Regulations changed in 2001 whereby New Zealanders must wait two years before being eligible for such payments.^[6] There are complaints in New Zealand that there is a brain drain to Australia.^[7]

Persons born in New Zealand continue to be the second largest source of immigration to Australia, representing 11% of total permanent additions in 2005–06 and accounting for 2.3% of Australia's population at June 2006.^[8]

See also

• Australia – New Zealand relations

References

1. ^ ^{a b} http://www.immi.gov.au/media/fact-sheets/17nz.htm Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship Fact Sheet – New Zealanders in Australia
2. ^ Asia-born population matching local born, The Age
3. ^ "Kiwis overseas – Migration to Australia". Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand. http://www.teara.govt.nz/NewZealanders/NewZealandPeoples/KiwisOverseas/4/en#1. Retrieved 12 September 2007. 
4. ^ Chapman, Paul (13 May 2006). "New Zealand warned over exodus to Australia". Daily Telegraph (UK). http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/05/13/wnz13.xml&sSheet=/news/2006/05/13/ixnews.html. Retrieved 15 June 2007. 
5. ^ Carl Walrond. Kiwis overseas – Migration to Australia, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 9 April 2008. Retrieved 26 January 2009.
6. ^ "Welfare Payments To Be Restricted For Kiwis In Australia". ABC. 26 February 2001. http://www.abc.net.au/am/stories/s251575.htm. Retrieved 27 June 2006. 
7. ^ Mahne, Christian (24 July 2002). "New Zealand voters fear brain drain". Business (BBC). http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/2148466.stm. Retrieved 27 June 2006. 
8. ^ "Migration: permanent additions to Australia's population". 4102.0 – Australian Social Trends, 2007. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 7 August 2007. http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Latestproducts/928AF7A0CB6F969FCA25732C00207852?opendocument#CHARACTERISTICS%20OF%20MIGRANTS. Retrieved 30 May 2008.