Source: Statistics New Zealand
Net migration loss to Australia in 2025 – news story
14 July 2026
There was a net migration loss of 28,500 people from New Zealand to Australia in the December 2025 year, according to provisional estimates released by Stats NZ today.
“The net migration loss from New Zealand to Australia in 2025 was smaller than the loss of 31,100 in 2024,” international migration statistics spokesperson Dave O’Donovan said.
Traditionally, there has been a net migration loss from New Zealand to Australia. This averaged about 30,000 a year during 2004 to 2013, and 3,000 a year during 2014 to 2019.
The record annual net migration loss from New Zealand to Australia was 43,700 in the March 2012 year.
“The smaller net migration loss in 2025 was due to slightly more arrivals from Australia to New Zealand, while departures from New Zealand to Australia were similar in number,” O’Donovan said.