Summarised by Centrist
Almost half of New Zealanders surveyed believe they need to leave the country to get ahead financially, up from 29% in 2020 to 48% in the latest University of Otago Consumer Lifestyles study.
The finding comes as financial hardship increasingly affects middle-income New Zealanders, including university graduates, homeowners and full-time workers.
The proportion classified as “financial strugglers” has risen from 16.5% in 2020 to 27%, making them the largest group identified in the survey.
Typically aged around 43, earning $51,000 to $75,000 and often carrying a mortgage, these respondents reported low satisfaction with their standard of living and future financial security.
Researcher Leah Watkins said the cost-of-living crisis was affecting “a lot more people”, including those not traditionally associated with financial hardship.
Across all respondents, 40% reported struggling to buy essentials, while 52% had gone without something to afford necessities.
Watkins warned that financial insecurity was affecting more than spending habits.
“You can see how that financial insecurity is not just affecting what people buy but it's affecting their outlook, their lifestyles in broader ways.”
The findings raise wider questions about economic opportunity in New Zealand, particularly as the country continues to record substantial net departures of its own citizens.
Re-published from the Centrist with permission
