Covid drives the flock

New survey of 15,000 expat Kiwis suggests about half of them plan to return to New Zealand

9th Nov 20, 9:55am by admin

A new survey responded to by 15,000 expat Kiwis suggests about half of them are planning to return to New Zealand - with the Covid pandemic being the main driver.

The survey was conducted for Kea, a public/private partnership, supported by NZTE, MFAT, MBIE and Tourism New Zealand. The survey and the analysis have been supported by distinguished Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, economist Julie Fry and distinguished Professor Paul Spoonley. The survey analytics, strategy and design were by TRA Research.

Highlights were:

Over 15,000 people completed the survey, from regions including the UK, Australia, US and Canada.
49% are planning to return, with half of those planning to arrive within the next two years.
The majority of those intending to return stated that Covid-19 was a key factor in their decision.
75% of those intending to return plan to stay permanently.
75% of respondents have been away for 5+ years, and are primarily aged between 35 and 54.
A large majority of respondents will potentially be looking for senior positions, stating their employment category as Senior, Manager, Director, Owner, or C-Suite.
20% of respondents want to invest in a business and 11% intend to start their own business, with 8% intending to employ between 2-5 staff.
While 32% intend to reside in Auckland, the remainder are looking to return to regional New Zealand, with 22% leaning towards a region they haven’t lived in before.
Nearly a third are returning with a spouse, some bringing children and pets.
65% of returning kiwis indicated they identify with progressive rather than traditional values.

Sir Peter Gluckman said he believed that Covid-19 was having an "undisputed impact" on the volume and calibre of returnees.

“Clearly New Zealand’s response in contrast to global impacts has triggered many offshore Kiwis of vast experience and talent to think about returning to contribute to New Zealand. This includes a significant number in an age range and talent pool at the height of their game, that previously had been assumed to be unlikely to return.”

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11 Comments

by xingmowang | 9th Nov 20, 11:16am 1604873772

Always great have people with a world view to come back and build NZ.

by scarfie | 9th Nov 20, 2:51pm 1604886690

Why do we need them to build NZ when we have China? I mean we hardly know how to build houses right, we'll get China to come and do it properly for us.

by HW2 | 9th Nov 20, 11:39am 1604875189

I have heard others predict this too, let's wait and see, even one-tenth of the number will be significant. There is one thing we *can* guarantee.... the red team will sit on their hands

by Dumb itch | 9th Nov 20, 12:08pm 1604876906

I could maybe rent out my chook run.
Might be the only option by then.
I wouldn't want to be the last one back, hard enough finding accommodation already.

by ShoreThing | 9th Nov 20, 1:13pm 1604880821

Is this the first survey of it's kind or is there previous data to compare this to? Not surprised that half of kiwi expats plan to return home at some point, it's pretty common to work overseas for a period of time and return later so this doesn't seem revelatory. Possibly more interesting would be a survey of Kiwis intentions to move overseas in the next 2 years or so.

by Kauri | 9th Nov 20, 2:52pm 1604886765

I'd certainly like more info about design of survey too. Is it random sample or self-selected as it seems it may be a self-selected survey which I would suspect would give significant bias towards those with greater connection to NZ and thus were planning on returning anyway.

by Hulk Hogan | 9th Nov 20, 3:48pm 1604890102

I agree, having returned to NZ in Jan and fitting in the same demographic as is indicated in this survey (40, kids, lived away for years). When living overseas and younger you don't waste your time on KEA surveys, but once you're a bit older and eyeing up moving back then KEA becomes a way to increase your connection to NZ in preparation for moving back. No doubt Covid makes the case for returning stronger, but I would envisage most of the people completing this survey and indicating their intention to return were already planning to return regardless. But in the absence of a proper survey that mitigates biases this one will have to do - to drive headlines for a day.

by Pusheen | 9th Nov 20, 1:27pm 1604881628

Until they realise that by OECD index, NZ housing affordability is higher than average, higher than OZ & Canada. Heavy reliance on low wages overseas workers in: Orchard, Horticulture, Aquaculture, Fisheries, Agriculture, Viticulture, Horticulture, Farming, Builder, Hospitality, Restaurant, Tourism, Au pair (desperate in today's news). Liked seen that Peter Gordon news on the tele last night, but yip.. as he's been away 31yrs from NZ. Back here is to buy that expensive RE.. and start a resto business (difficult to view him doing fast genetic sequencing or along side Rocket Lab.) but always 'potential to supply catering to them. But my guess is? - with the good capital base? they'll just have to do like the rest of current/local herd.. that is to invest more & more into Real Estate. Even prominent artist, movie moguls, actors.. finally have to resort to that in NZ

by powerdownkiwi | 9th Nov 20, 2:57pm 1604887021

"The survey and the analysis have been supported by distinguished Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, economist Julie Fry and distinguished Professor Paul Spoonley"

How about asking a Limits-to-Growth expert? An Overpopulation expert?

The pandemic is a symptom, not a cause. It is a symptom of too many people, travelling past each other too often, too close. Just as Climate is a symptom, not a cause; it's a result of too much burn, by too many people, travelling too often.........

Those three are not experts - at least, not that they've been asked. So, Interest.co, I challenge you: ask them what the planetary carrying capacity is, ex fossil energy? Then ask what ours is, ditto. Then ask whether we're already overstocked, and who we triage at the borders.

Time we got serious.

by Kauri | 9th Nov 20, 3:20pm 1604888440

I agree totally. However, the trouble with overpopulation is it's a rear-view mirror thing, that is, you don't you're there until you've already gone past. Sadly, until things getting horrendously bad BAU will carry on - there is too much inertia in the system.

by Yvil | 9th Nov 20, 3:21pm 1604888497

Sorry "legalise cannabis" didn't make it through but glad to see you're well stocked anyway