Over the last week, I spent time in Sydney and Melbourne on business. Walking through the CBDs, grabbing coffees, and chatting with locals, one thing hit me repeatedly: the number of Kiwis everywhere.

Familiar accents in meetings, at networking events, in offices, and even in casual conversations. It’s not just a few — it’s noticeable. And the data backs it up. Australia is home to over 600,000 New Zealand-born people, with large communities in Sydney and Melbourne. In recent years, tens of thousands of Kiwis have crossed the Tasman, with net migration losses to Australia remaining significant (around 28,000–30,000 NZ citizens in some recent 12-month periods).

This is the classic brain drain challenge facing New Zealand.

The Lure of Bigger Opportunities

Why do so many leave? It’s rarely just about the money (though Australian salaries in many sectors are 20-30% higher on average). It’s the scale:

• Larger cities with more dynamic industries
• Bigger companies and more senior roles
• Greater access to capital, clients, and career progression
• Vibrant professional networks and lifestyle perks of major metros

Many talented engineers, tech professionals, creatives, and specialists in their 20s–40s see Australia as the place where they can level up faster. We lose not just numbers, but often our high-potential, skilled talent — the very people who could help drive innovation and growth back home.

Recent Stats NZ figures show that while overall net migration has fluctuated, the outflow of NZ citizens remains a real feature of our migration patterns, with Australia as the top destination for the majority of those departures.

Young and mid-career professionals are disproportionately represented.

Building Industry Capability Here in NZ

At BlackBull, we’re deeply committed to growing the ecosystem right here in New Zealand. One of the initiatives I’m most excited about is our collaboration with the University of Auckland (UoA).We’re working together to help bridge the gap between academia and industry — supporting talent development, practical skills, and pathways that keep high-calibre people engaged and building their careers in NZ.

Whether it’s through industry projects, knowledge exchange, or creating real-world opportunities in tech and related fields, the goal is clear: strengthen local capability so New Zealand becomes a place where ambitious Kiwis want to stay and thrive.

Universities like UoA are producing excellent graduates. The challenge is creating enough high-impact, scaled opportunities domestically so they don’t feel they have to leave to realise their potential.

It’s Not All Doom and Gloom — But Action Is Needed

The good news? Brain drain isn’t irreversible. Many Kiwis overseas stay connected to home and some do return when conditions align (family, lifestyle, or new opportunities). New Zealand still offers incredible quality of life, innovation in niches like deep tech and agritech, and a collaborative culture that bigger markets sometimes lack.But we can’t be complacent. To stem the flow and reverse parts of it, we need:

• More ambitious industry-university partnerships (like the one we’re building with UoA)
• Greater investment in scaling local companies and creating senior roles
• Policies and incentives that support high-value sectors and talent retention
• A collective mindset that “building here” can be as exciting as heading across the ditch

If we get this right, we can turn the brain drain conversation into one about brain gain and brain circulation — where Kiwis contribute globally but see New Zealand as a strong base.

I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Have you or someone you know made the move to Australia?

What would it take to bring more talent back or keep it here?

Are there successful examples of companies or initiatives successfully retaining or attracting Kiwis?Let’s discuss in the comments — and if you’re working in tech, engineering, or related fields and passionate about building New Zealand’s industry capability, feel free to reach out.