Migrants pleased with new life in New Zealand
Media Release
1 December 2009
Almost all skilled business migrants to New Zealand are pleased with their life in this country, according to the latest findings from a survey being carried out by the Department of Labour’s immigration research team, IMSED Research.
About nine in ten skilled migrants (89 per cent) reported they were satisfied or very satisfied with life in New Zealand and 92 per cent said they would recommend New Zealand to others as a place to come and live.
The relaxed pace of life, and the clean and green environment were most likely to meet skilled migrants’ expectations.
The Settlement Experience Feedback Survey - which began in November 2004 -aims to collect the initial settlement experiences and outcomes of Skilled/Business Stream migrants, with a focus on the migrants after 12 months of living in New Zealand. These latest findings were drawn from the 2008 survey.
Other findings include:
- 92 percent of principal applicants were employed at the time of the survey.
- Nearly nine in 10 employed principal applicants (88 percent) reported their qualifications and skills matched their current job.
- 76 percent of employed skilled migrants reported they were satisfied or very satisfied with their main occupation.
- 45 percent of skilled migrants lived in the Auckland region.
- 73 percent of skilled migrants reported they were satisfied or very satisfied with the overall quality of their housing.
- Distance from home or family was an aspect of life in New Zealand that skilled migrants disliked most.
- More than one in four skilled migrants (29 percent) reported they had undertaken further education in New Zealand since arriving here.
For the full research findings go to: