Kiwis heading abroad for adventure, not money - study

Adventure and experience of other cultures were the main motivators for New Zealanders moving overseas a new study has found. Photo / Supplied

Adventure and experience of other cultures were the main motivators for New Zealanders moving overseas, rather than earning more money, a new study has found.

Massey University department of management and international business PhD student Kaye Thorn conducted the study, called Flight of the Kiwi, for her thesis.

She asked 2608 highly educated emigrants, including doctors, lawyers, bankers and scientists, why they left and whether they would come back.

Respondents said their key motives in where to live were, in order of priority , culture and travel opportunities, career, economics, relationships, quality of life and political environment.

Ms Thorn said economics as the third priority was contrary to popular analogy that more money was drawing New Zealanders overseas.

For people living in Britain, who made up half the respondents, cultural and travel opportunities was the top reason at 36.5 per cent, with career second at 22.6 per cent and economics third at 18.6 per cent.

For those in Australia (21 per cent of respondents), more than 30 per cent said career was the driver, with economics second at 21.2 per cent and quality of life third at 17.3 per cent.

Under 35s were concerned about making enough money to pay back their student loan faster, she said.

Some of the emigrants' motives were very specific.

"Some people were keen to meet others in a larger gay community, one person wanted to find a Jewish partner and another woman said there was a man drought so she had left for London," she said.

Thirty-five per cent of respondents said they planned to be back in New Zealand within five years, the main reasons being children's education, retirement or because they anticipated having sufficient financial savings by then.

Ms Thorn said the economic crisis appeared to have resulted in a slowing of the movement of New Zealanders overseas, particularly to Australia.

She anticipated that departures to Britain may also decline over the next few years, as people delayed their OE until casual employment there increased.

"There is very little a government can do to prevent that mobility, but perhaps the Government could consider creating a cultural visa that allows a person to travel and or work overseas for up to two years with their job held open and appropriate recognition for their international experience on their return."

- NZPA