Fears of skills shortage as departures hit new highs

When New Zealand opened its borders after the pandemic, the departures began immediately.

- Pete McKenzie

For Kirsty Frame, then a 24-year-old journalist for the country's national broadcaster in Wellington, the sense of loss was constant.

"It was goodbye dinner after goodbye dinner, leaving drinks after leaving drinks, and it started to take a toll." For her, the city's beauty came from its people.

"If what made Wellington so great as a place to live and work was my community, and I feel I don't have that here now and there's a lot less people my age, what do I want to do?" She considered moving to Auckland, New Zealand's largest city, but heard it felt empty too. She mulled London, but Britain seemed too distant. Finally, in the middle of 2023, she moved to Melbourne.

The flow of departures from New Zealand has accelerated since then.