If you want to develop your listening skills, try these tasks as you listen to the text. The answers are at the bottom of this page. Thanks to Natasha Groves for preparing the tasks.
If you want to listen and read, just scroll down to the text.
Use the vocabulary list to check the meanings of some words before you listen.
Vocabulary
departure – an act of leaving a place, especially at the beginning of a trip
inflation – a continuing increase in prices, or the rate at which prices increase
mortgage – money borrowed from a bank to buy a house
depart (verb) – to leave, especially at the beginning of a trip
net (adjective) – the final amount or number. In this context, the difference between the number of arrivals and that of departures
Try these activities while listening
1. Listening for main ideas
First, just listen to the text, taking notes if you wish. What information can you catch during this first listening?
2. Now listen again and answer the following questions:
- The number of people who left New Zealand in 2025 was lower than in 2024. True/ False?
- How many people left New Zealand to live in another country in 2025?
- Why are so many New Zealanders leaving?
- What is the current unemployment rate?
- Why do many New Zealanders move to Australia?
- How many people arrived in New Zealand to live in 2025?
- How many Indian citizens came to live in New Zealand? How many Australians?
- The net migration gain was lower in 2025 than 2024. True/ False?
News story
Last year it was often noted in the news that thousands of New Zealanders were leaving to live in other countries, particularly Australia. Now the latest data from Stats NZ confirms that the number of people who left New Zealand in 2025 was higher than in 2024.
When people move to another country to live for more than 12 months, they are called migrants. According to Stats NZ, in 2025 there were 119,800 migrant departures from New Zealand, that is, people who left New Zealand to live elsewhere for more than a year. This compares with 118,500 in 2024.
One reason for the high number of New Zealanders leaving is unemployment. It has been rising steadily because businesses have either reduced staff numbers or stopped hiring because of the weak economy. There are now 165,000 people unemployed in New Zealand. The unemployment rate is 5.4 percent, which is the highest level since March 2015. In addition, wage growth is only 2 percent, but inflation is 3.1 percent, so prices are increasing more than wages. This makes it difficult for people to afford mortgages or rent, electricity, food, and other basic needs.
Consequently, thousands of New Zealanders have decided to move, particularly to Australia, where there are often more job opportunities and higher wages. According to estimates from Stats NZ, between July 2024 and June 2025, 61 percent of New Zealand citizens who departed went to Australia.
In contrast, there were 134,000 migrant arrivals – that is, people who came to live in New Zealand – compared with 142,300 in 2024. Around 26,000 were New Zealanders returning home. The arrivals also included approximately 17,000 Indian citizens, 15,000 Chinese, and 10,000 Filipino. About 4,800 came from the United Kingdom and 4,700 from Australia.
The difference between migrant arrivals and departures is called the net migration gain. In 2025 it was only 14,200, whereas in 2024 it was 23,800.
Answers – you don’t have to write a complete sentence as long as you have the key idea in your answer
a. The number of people who left New Zealand in 2025 was lower than in 2024. True/ False?
False (it was higher)
b. How many people left New Zealand to live in another country in 2025?
119,800
c. Why are so many New Zealanders leaving?
Because of rising unemployment and increasing prices
d. What is the current unemployment rate?
5.4 percent
e. Why do many New Zealanders move to Australia?
More job opportunities and higher wages
f. How many people arrived in New Zealand to live in 2025?
134,000
g. How many Indian citizens came to live in New Zealand?
Approximately 17,000
How many Australians?
About 4,700
h. The net migration gain was lower in 2025 than 2024. True/ False?
True (14,200 in 2025, but 23,800 in 2024)