The South Island is attracting a growing number of internal migrants, with new figures revealing more than 85,000 Kiwis have relocated there from the North Island in five years.
Between 2018 and 2023, 85,575 people made the move south, 30,000 more than those heading north, according to Stats New Zealand.
Auckland alone saw a net migration loss of 50,000 people over five years.
Canterbury and Otago had the highest number of people living in the region that had moved between the two islands since the 2018 Census.
Stats NZ 2023 Census spokesperson Rosemary Goodyear said housing affordability and study opportunities were likely to be “strong factors” for drawing people south.
“House prices are typically lower in Canterbury than in much of the North Island.
“Students may be moving to study at universities – 15 to 29-year-olds made up one-third of people that moved to Canterbury from the North Island between 2018 and 2023, and half of those who moved to Otago from the North Island.”
Christchurch has the lowest average rents and house prices among New Zealand’s three major cities.
South Island Minister James Meager said there was “massive growth” in housing developments across Te Waipounamu, including in Lincoln, Rolleston, and in central Otago.
“I spent the last two days in Queenstown, and that is going absolutely bananas.”
He said so many people wanted to move down for the environment, the scenery, and work opportunities.
“If you want to come from the North Island and bring your direct foreign investment south, we are welcoming you with open arms.”
Youth migration is being driven by Christchurch’s revitalisation following the earthquakes with a record-high enrolment at the University of Canterbury of 25,000 students.
The city’s population of those aged 15-24 has increased by 6%, bucking the national trend.
“Christchurch has essentially been rebuilt after the earthquake, so you’ve got new, attractive housing and buildings,” said Canterbury University Student Association president Luc MacKay.
“People consistently tell me they really enjoy coming here because it’s fresh.”
The West Coast mining sector has added 1200 jobs, while manufacturing and future-focused sectors were expanding too in Canterbury
ChristchurchNZ chief executive Ali Adams said incredible jobs were being created and advertised in the Garden City daily.
“This is particularly in some of our future focus sectors like aerospace and clean tech and also in the health tech industries.”
The island’s famed beauty, from snow-capped mountains to glacial lakes, was also a big drawcard for North Island expats.
Claire Turnbull, who moved from Auckland to Queenstown, said the shift was about improving family life.
“We just wanted to simplify life. So, we downsized and made the move,” she said.
“It comes down to quality of life. If you can make it work living in a smaller place, and your pace of life is a bit slower, that can feel a lot better.”
