Al-anwar Newspaper English news in Australia
Australians flooded the website of New Zealand’s immigration department after the election, presumably looking to escape across the ditch.
New Zealand has reported a huge spike in the number of Australians considering a move across the ditch since the federal election was called.
Immigration New Zealand said the number of visits to the New Zealand Now site surged tenfold on Sunday as Aussies woke to the news of a Coalition victory.
The website received more than 8500 visits from Australia on Sunday — about ten times the usual number — and 512 of those visitors registered interest in a Kiwi visa. That’s compared to just 20 people a week earlier, on May 12.
Not everyone is keen to stick around while ScoMo’s in charge. Picture: AAP/Mick TsikasSource:AAP
Australian citizens don’t need a visa to move to New Zealand, however, and the statistics include anyone currently in Australia — not just citizens.
“It is important to note these are purely registrations of interest in coming to New Zealand and does not necessarily translate to the number of people actually moving to New Zealand,” Immigration New Zealand general manager Greg Forsythe added.
Still, since Labor lost the “unlosable” election that returned Scott Morrison as prime minister, plenty of disillusioned voters have considered their options.
And while escape plans from Australia frequently involve our neighbour across the Tasman, the universally adored Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern — who is Australia’s most trusted politician — seems to have made New Zealand an even more attractive prospect.
