New Zealand’s young leaving in record numbers as cost of living bites
Al Jazeera
New Zealanders are seeking opportunity overseas at unprecedented rates amid disillusionment over house prices and jobs.
Wellington, New Zealand – When Jessica Chong started sending out invitations for a recent party to celebrate her and her partner’s birthdays in Auckland, New Zealand, she realised that few of their closest friends would be able to attend.
In the last few months, most of them had moved overseas.
Chong’s experience reflects a broader trend.
Despite its international image as a progressive haven, New Zealand is experiencing a record exodus of people amid steep rises in living costs, a scarcity of jobs and what Chong calls a generally “grim” atmosphere.
“It just feels a bit empty,” Chong, 28, who is herself planning to move to London, told Al Jazeera.
