Executive Summary

This report details the findings from the 2007 Settlement Experience Feedback Survey (SEFS) of migrants who took up residence in New Zealand through the Skilled/Business Stream from January 2006 to June 2006. The survey is sent out to these migrants 12 months after residence approval or arrival into New Zealand. Therefore, these migrants were surveyed from 1 January 2007 to 31 June 2007. This report also contains information on trends (from 2005 to 2007) on the key settlement outcomes of principal applicants.

The Settlement Experiences Feedback Survey (SEFS) was designed to monitor and provide a detailed picture of early settlement outcomes (i.e. the first year of settlement) for Skilled/Business Stream migrants who took up residence in New Zealand.

The SEFS was originally set up to monitor the settlement experiences and outcomes of migrants included in the Customised Service strategy, with a particular focus on migrants who took up residence through the Skilled/Business Stream.

In its current form, the SEFS collects information regarding specific aspects of migrants’ settlement outcomes in New Zealand, including employment and personal income, satisfaction with housing and children’s schooling, and access to core services, as well as likes, dislikes and satisfaction with living in New Zealand.

The SEFS questionnaire was successfully sent out to 1,054 addresses, of which 601 responded to the survey, generating a 57 percent response rate.

Key findings from the 2007 survey are as follows:

Employment

• 92 percent of principal and 70 percent of secondary applicants were working for pay or profit at the time of the survey.
• Of the principal applicants who applied for residence through the Skilled/Business Stream, 91 percent of those from the United Kingdom/Ireland, 93 percent from Asia, 91 percent from Europe/South Africa/North America (ESANA) and 94 percent from Other regions were working for pay or profit.
• 35 percent of principal and 16 percent of secondary applicants were classified as Professionals.
• 79 percent of principal and 74 percent of secondary applicants reported not having any difficulties in finding work in New Zealand.
• 74 percent of principal and 73 percent of secondary applicants were very satisfied/satisfied with their job.

Income

• 45 percent of principal applicants (who were working for pay or profit) had pre-tax incomes of over $50,000, whereas 85 percent of secondary applicants had incomes of less than $50,001.
• When viewed by migrant region of origin, there were no significant differences between the reported income levels of principal applicants, with 46 percent of those from the United Kingdom/Ireland and 50 percent of those from ESANA reporting incomes of over $50,000, while 33 percent of those from Asia and 39 percent of those from Other regions also reported earning greater than $50,001.

Housing

• The majority of migrants (71 percent) reside in one of three main regions, with 47 percent being in Auckland, 13 percent in Canterbury and 11 percent in Wellington.
• At 57 percent, home ownership among migrants is similar to the national average (53 percent based on 2006 Census results), with 43 percent of migrants reporting they owned their home with a mortgage and 14 percent owning their home without a mortgage.
• One-third of migrants (34 percent) reported having difficulties finding suitable housing in New Zealand, with this most frequently being issues related to the high costs of rent or having a mortgage.
• However, 80 percent report being very satisfied/satisfied with the quality of their current accommodation, and there were no significant differences in satisfaction with accommodation when viewed by migrant region of origin.
• Of the one-fifth of migrants who were not satisfied with the quality of their current accommodation, most frequently this related to difficulties in heating or keeping their home warm (reported by 68 percent of all those who were not satisfied), followed by the cost of their accommodation (reported by 41 percent of all those who were not satisfied).

Children

• 88 percent of migrants were very satisfied/satisfied with their children’s schooling.

Further education and training

• A significant number of migrants (37 percent of principal and 44 percent of secondary applicants) have undertaken study since taking up residence in New Zealand. [1]
• Most frequently, principal applicants undertook study to get their qualifications upgraded (44 percent), while secondary applicants were more likely to have done so to get a job/find a better job (40 percent).
• One-fifth of migrants who have undertaken study (20 percent) did so to improve their English language skills.

Access to services

• Most frequently, migrants sought assistance in gaining a driver licence (46 percent), with the tax system (37 percent) or to find a general practitioner or family doctor (33 percent).
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• econdary applicants were more likely to have sought assistance with looking for work (25 percent compared with 17 percent of principal applicants).

Living in New Zealand

• At the time of obtaining residence, 65 percent of migrants had planned to live in New Zealand for five or more years; however, 12 months on into their residence, this had increased to 70 percent.
• Aspects of New Zealand that migrants liked most include New Zealand's climate/natural beauty/clean and green environment (85 percent), the friendly people or relaxed pace of life (77 percent), New Zealand's recreation and leisure activities (57 percent) and its small population (56 percent).
• Aspects of New Zealand that migrants disliked most include the cost of health services (46 percent), New Zealand’s high tax rates/tax system difficult to understand (43 percent), the distance of New Zealand from home or family (40 percent), poor quality of housing/the cost of housing (39 percent) and poor public transport/lack of public transport (36 percent).
• The majority of migrants (86 percent) were very satisfied/satisfied with living in New Zealand.
• Similarly, 87 percent of migrants would recommend New Zealand to others as a place to come and live.

Conclusions

Skilled migrants in New Zealand are a diverse group. This report shows that the early settlement outcomes of skilled migrants are positive. Employment is a key determinant for positive settlement, and this report shows that over 90 percent of skilled principal applicants were employed at the time of the survey. Despite a few areas of dissatisfaction, skilled migrants were mainly pleased with living in New Zealand, their jobs, their children’s schools and their homes, and planned to live in New Zealand for at least five or more years.

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