Work-life balance has become a higher priority than earning potential since the COVID-19 pandemic, while remote working has blurred traditional boundaries. New Zealand ranks first in a global life-work balance index for the third consecutive year in 2025. New Zealanders receive 32 paid days off annually versus about 21 in South Africa. New Zealand provides access to high-quality healthcare and 26 weeks of paid paternal leave. Nearly 100,000 South Africans now live in New Zealand, up from roughly 70,000 before the pandemic. South Africans make up about 10% of new citizens, are the third-largest overseas-born group, and more than 4,000 gain resident status each year.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, work-life balance has rocketed ahead of earning potential as a priority for most citizens. The advent of remote working, while convenient, has also eroded traditional boundaries for work-life balance. However, countries like New Zealand still prioritise a positive work-life balance, and it's paying off. In 2025, the antipodean nation topped Remote's Global Life Work Balance Index for the third year in a row, reports BusinessTech.
The report's findings take into account the number of paid days' leave. And New Zealanders top the list globally with 32 per year. South Africa offers an average of just 21 annually. Moreover, the report notes access to top-notch healthcare and 26 weeks of paid paternal leave in New Zealand. In light of this, it's no wonder that South Africans are drawn to New Zealand for its high quality of life, job opportunities and safety.
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