Moving to New Zealand from Australia

If you’re an Aussie who’s keen to relocate and see what life is like over the ditch in New Zealand, you’re not alone, thousands of Australians make this move every year.

Offering a quieter pace of life, New Zealand’s picturesque natural scenery, high standard of living, friendly people and access to great healthcare and education make it a winning place to live.

Whether you choose to live in one of its small but vibrant major cities or settle in one of many beautiful towns dotted along the length of both the North and South Island, it truly has a lot to offer.

If you’re ready to make New Zealand your new home, this guide covers all the essentials for Australian citizens. This includes things such as whether a visa is necessary, how healthcare works, the cost of living, finding employment and more.

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New Zealand key facts

While there is a lot to cover if you’re considering a move to New Zealand (NZ), below are some key facts about this destination at a glance.

Capital	Wellington
Official Languages	English/Māori
Population	5.124 million
Currency	New Zealand Dollar (NZD)
Biggest cities	Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington, Hamilton, Tauranga
Weather	A coastal fringed nation, there are typically mild temperatures year-round. However, the most northern regions experience subtropical weather during summer and the inland alpine areas of the South Island experience snow and sub-zero temperatures in winter.
Government type	Constitutional monarchy, Parliamentary system
Average yearly salary (2022-2023)	Approximately NZD 53,040 per year

Life in New Zealand

New Zealand, Aotearoa in Māori, offers a high standard of living. This standard is evident in its average incomes, employment, education, health, environmental quality, social and community engagement and overall life satisfaction.¹

A laid-back, friendly and welcoming country, New Zealand offers a slower, more relaxed pace of life compared with many other developed nations. High-level healthcare, education and related services are readily accessible and unemployment is low.

It is also renowned worldwide as having one of the most naturally beautiful landscapes with a wonderfully diverse environment to explore and enjoy. From stunning beaches to blue lakes, glaciers, lush forests, world-class ski fields and more, New Zealand is a nature lover's dream.

A variety of major supermarket chains, local farmers markets and convenience stores make finding your day-to-day groceries easy. Within major cities, you’ll also enjoy a wide variety of high-end dining options, plentiful retail outlets and fun nightlife.

Moving to New Zealand – pros and cons

Below is a brief rundown of the pros and cons of moving to and living in New Zealand.

Pros	Cons
Inclusive, culturally rich society	Cooler climate than Australia and earthquakes are not uncommon
Low unemployment	Cost of living can be quite high
Excellent healthcare & education	It is relatively isolated from the rest of the world, making travel more challenging
Housing and standard of living on par with Australia	Small size means often means less nightlife or international entertainment on offer
It is safe, crime rates are generally low	Country is split over two main islands complicating domestic travel
A beautiful and diverse natural environment to explore and enjoy	NZD not as strong as AUD, USD, GBP, EUR making overseas travel expensive

New Zealand entry requirements for Australian citizens

Australian citizens are permitted to travel freely between Australia and New Zealand so long as they²:

• Have a valid passport
• Complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration Form (NZTD) on arrival before going through passport control
• Do not have a criminal record or conviction for certain crimes

New Zealand visa types and requirements

Helpfully, unlike moving to other nations, citizens of Australia may visit, live and work in New Zealand indefinitely without needing to arrange a visa or work permit.³

The only restriction to this is if you have certain criminal convictions, in which case you may be refused entry altogether.

What about Australian permanent residents?

The same ease of movement and resettlement is also extended to Australian permanent residents.

They are, however, required to apply online for a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) before departing Australia in order to enter New Zealand.²

Australian citizens are exempt from this rule.

New Zealand residency and permits

Upon arrival, Australian citizens are entirely exempt from needing to hold a residency permit and any Australian permanent residents can be granted a residence permit on arrival.³

As above, as an Australian Citizen, this allows you to live and work in New Zealand without issue for as long as you desire with no restrictions.

If you are a permanent resident of Australia and are granted a New Zealand residence permit on arrival, you must renew the permit to remain in NZ or depart before it expires.

Is New Zealand safe for Australians?

Yes, New Zealand is a safe place nationwide for Australians to live and work with similar crime rates to those of Australia.²

However, while crime may not be a major concern in terms of safety, as a country that has 9 active volcanoes and regular earthquakes, educating yourself about what to do in a related emergency is strongly recommended.

Level of English spoken and learning the local language

English is widely spoken throughout New Zealand making it an easy transition for Australians moving to its shores.

Māori, the native language of New Zealand's indigenous people is spoken by a percentage of the community with some words and phrases also being adopted into the local English vernacular.

It is not necessary to learn this to work or live in New Zealand but you are expected to demonstrate utmost respect for the Māori language and culture at all times.

Healthcare in New Zealand

New Zealand’s healthcare system is very similar to that of Australia, making for easy access to exceptional and comprehensive medical care through a mixture of hospitals, specialist medical centres and local doctors' offices.

If you’re an Australian citizen or permanent resident who’s lived, or plans to live, in NZ for at least 2 years you may be eligible for free or subsidised (low-cost) healthcare while living in New Zealand.⁴

The Reciprocal Healthcare Agreement

Typically, this healthcare is provided under a reciprocal healthcare arrangement that exists between Australia and New Zealand.

Under this agreement, New Zealand citizens (colloquially known as Kiwis) can just as equally access the Australian healthcare system when living there.⁴

However, it is important to note, that just like Australia, not all health services are fully funded through the public system. For this reason, comprehensive private medical insurance is still recommended.

Cost of living in New Zealand

New Zealand is often ranked as having quite a high cost of living, compared to some European or North American nations, particularly where rent and groceries are concerned.

However, compared to Australia, the overall cost of living is typically lower.

The following table outlines the monthly average living expenses for a single person living in a one-bedroom apartment in some of the most popular cities.⁵

All prices quoted in New Zealand Dollars

	Auckland	Hamilton	Wellington	Christchurch	Tauranga
Rent	$1876	$1611	$2501	$2459	$2021
Utilities (electricity, water, phone, internet)	$377	$348	$440	$335	$388
Groceries⁶	$590	$590	$590	$590	$590
Transport (public)	$230	$80	$190	$74	$110

Correct as of 04 May 2024

Finding a job in New Zealand

Finding employment in New Zealand is generally straightforward and closely mirrors how you would find work in Australia.

You can look for work:

Online

There are many websites you can use to find current job listings in New Zealand.

Kimi Mahi Mai - Find a Job is the government's dedicated platform with job listings across all industries and throughout New Zealand.

Other popular sites include:

• TradeMe.co.nz
• Seek.co.nz
• Indeed.com

If you’re hoping to find work within a specific field or industry, there are also several targeted sites such as:

• Pick NZ and Opportunity Grows here for seasonal work
• New Zealand Government Jobs for job listings within the New Zealand government sector
• Jobs and Skills Hubs for construction work
• Jobs for Mums for family-friendly jobs

Recruitment Agencies

A recruitment agency may be able to help you find work quite quickly on your arrival to New Zealand.

Frequently having details of roles that are not yet publicly listed or intel on who may be seeking someone with your expertise, these agencies can be a valuable resource in your job hunt.

Direct Contact

Researching companies you’d like to work for and proactively reaching out to them about possible work, regardless of whether they have any jobs listed, can also be beneficial.

Many companies are open to receiving resumes at any time as they never know when they may need to hire new staff.

Networking

A great way to find job leads, networking at industry events and job fairs can also help you form valuable long-term connections and friendships with people in your industry.

Even attending social gatherings and making new friends in your neighbourhood can be helpful. You never know who might know someone who has the perfect job opportunity for you and personal referrals are always valuable.

Banks and accounts in New Zealand

As with any international move, setting up a local bank account will be essential. There are four main banks in New Zealand that you may like to consider opening an account with, these are:

• ASB
• ANZ
• BNZ and
• Westpac

While both Westpac and ANZ also operate in Australia, as one of their customers you will likely still need to set up a new account in New Zealand to more easily send and receive funds locally or make payments in NZD.

What to keep in mind about moving to New Zealand

For Australians moving to New Zealand, there is not likely to be any serious culture shock. Both countries share many similarities as Commonwealth nations and due to being in such close proximity to one another.

Even so, it is worth keeping in mind:

• New Zealand’s small population and laid-back lifestyle may be too quiet for anyone used to the buzz of Australia’s big cities or for those who love a variety of entertainment and nightlife
• With many essentials and comfort items being imported from overseas, prices for these can be more expensive than they would be in Australia
• Public transport is limited nationwide and where it is available, it is quite expensive to use
• Temperatures in both Winter and Summer can be cooler than in Australia so if you love a scorching Aussie summer, you may miss the heat while in NZ

New Zealand embassy addresses and contacts in Australia

Should you need to speak with a New Zealand or expert contact about your proposed move, you can contact them as follows:

New Zealand High Commission to Australia, Sydney

• 02 6270 4211

New Zealand Consulate General, Sydney

• 02 9270 5900

New Zealand Consulate General, Melbourne

• 03 9678 0201

New Zealand Honorary Consul, Perth

• 08 9364 1700

In conclusion

As far as visas and working rights are concerned, moving to New Zealand as an Australian citizen or even as a permanent resident is very easy.

While a little isolated, you’ll never need to compromise on essentials healthcare, education or a comfortable standard of living.

If you’re someone who enjoys a quieter lifestyle, enjoys the great outdoors and local gourmet produce among other great benefits, New Zealand represents a fantastic opportunity for any Aussie seeking a new life overseas.

Ready to cross the ditch and embrace being a Kiwi? A new life awaits!

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Sources:

1. OECD Better Life Index - New Zealand
2. Smartraveller - Entering New Zealand
3. NZMFAT - Visas
4. Health New Zealand - Healthcare
5. Numbeo - Cost of Living In NZ
6. Numbeo - Average grocery costs NZ

Sources checked on: 04 May 2024