Aussie dream losing its sheen

Migration from Rotorua to Australia has been steadily decreasing,

It seems the idea of a new life across the ditch may be starting to lose its appeal for Rotorua residents, going by the latest migration figures.

Statistics New Zealand figures for 2014 show migration from Rotorua to Australia has been steadily decreasing, with the number of departures from the Rotorua district to Australia the lowest in 10 years.

Last year, 532 people moved permanently from Rotorua to Australia, down from 734 in 2013 and 1103 in 2012.

Experts say economic as well as lifestyle factors are behind the statistics, which also show the number of arrivals to the Rotorua district from Australia has increased from 43 in 2012, to 301 in 2013 and 373 in 2014.

"With the impact of the global financial crisis and downturn in the mining industry on businesses in Australia, there has been widespread restructuring which has led to interest in moving back to New Zealand, or conversely not migrating in the first place," said Grow Rotorua chief executive Francis Pauwels.

"I think there is also a perception from Australians and definitely European and South Americans that New Zealand is the prize place to work, live and play, and the North Island scores highly in that."

People were moving back to raise their families, he said.

"A number of people tend to move [to Australia] in, say, their early 20s to 30s, work for 10 to 20 years there, then through that time decide they want somewhere better to raise a family or be back with their close and extended families.

"Grow Rotorua did attend two recent job fairs run by Immigration NZ in Sydney and Perth and the job leads from that have been more in the higher skilled, better paid sectors.

"Other factors include comparative housing and general living costs, lifestyle, climate, culture, tolerance. In other words, it is no longer just about the comparative pay rates."

Rotorua Chamber of Commerce chairman Darrin Walsh said economic factors and Grow Rotorua's presence at the job fairs were behind the change.

"Recently, the Australian economy is not going as well as ours is - ours is tracking up and theirs is not performing as well, and the cost of living in Australia is higher than it was. The council has been over there actively attracting people to come here, and Rotorua has a good lifestyle. The economy is bouncing up, business confidence is increasing and therefore there is an increase in jobs. Long may it continue."