‘Hollowing out’: New Zealand grapples with an uncertain future as record numbers leave

Thousands of New Zealanders are relocating to Australia amid economic struggles, an aging population, and declining fertility rates. A young couple in Dunedin, the Bakers, moved to Perth after their son Teddy settled into life in Australia due to financial challenges, illustrating a broader trend of migration as New Zealand faces demographic decline and rising living costs. Meanwhile, Indigenous groups in Australia are increasingly focusing on upskilling locals and promoting tourism to counteract population loss, while families like the Bakers find fulfillment in new environments yet remain deeply connected culturally to their homeland.