Harriet Baker, a lifelong resident of Dunedin, has relocated with her family to Western Australia due to escalating living costs and limited financial prospects. While she treasures her roots and the hope of a Kiwi upbringing for her son, the harsh economic realities led her family to seek better opportunities abroad. This trend reflects a broader exodus from New Zealand, raising concerns about demographic shifts, workforce depletion, and the future vitality of small towns as more residents leave in search of improved living conditions.
When we bought our house I said, You'll be taking me out of here in a casket, she says, of the Dunedin home she and husband Cameron Baker, 33, sold last month.
It does feel crazy that we're leaving them. But that Australian income just flipped the switch for us.
I don't know why we're not talking about this more. We have a steep decline in fertility, a rapidly ageing population, and, out of Covid, we are seeing the rise and rise of departures.
Parts of New Zealand are beginning to empty out, they will suffer stagnation or are in decline.
Collection
[
|
...
]