PHOTO: Auckland Exodus: Why Thousands Are Heading South for a Better Life. CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND.
The new stadium in Christchurch is officially called OneâŻNewâŻZealand Stadium under a 10-year naming-rights deal with One NewâŻZealand. However, its MÄori name remains TeâŻKaha, meaning “enduring strength,” which refers both to the venue itself and the wider precinct, known as TeâŻKaharoa
More Kiwis than ever are swapping the Super City for South Island serenity â and the numbers prove it.
Between the 2018 and 2023 Censuses, a staggering 34,440 Aucklanders packed up and moved to the South Island, compared to just 19,986 making the reverse journey. The clear winner? Canterbury, with 17,283 ex-Aucklanders making it their new home â followed by Otago, attracting over 10,000.
Whatâs driving the migration? A combination of sky-high housing costs, unsustainable commuting, and a yearning for better quality of life.
đŹ âWe Wanted a Family Life. Auckland Wasnât It.â
Luke Wilson, a recruiter who left Auckland in 2021, now lives in Rolleston with his partner and two children.
âWe were looking at places like Orewa, but even for a modest house, it was going to cost over $1 million â and that came with a three-hour round-trip commute,â he said.
Now, in a modern home with a 20-minute commute, Wilson says the move was the best decision they ever made:
âRollestonâs got everything â doctors, parks, daycare, even a pool. We love it. Itâs perfect for our family.â
And with Christchurch rebuilding fast, he says the city has âa cool vibe,â with new infrastructure, restaurants and the soon-to-be-completed Te Kaha Stadium, which will be âmonumental for the city.â
đ§ âAuckland Felt Cutthroat â Christchurch Feels Groundedâ
Afia Zafar, a software engineer originally from Pakistan, landed in Auckland in 2023. She soon found the cityâs culture stifling:
âIt was all about surviving, not thriving. Everyone talked about who you know, not what you know.â
Four months later, she moved to Christchurch â and found peace.
âThereâs a calmness here, a groundedness. I feel safe, I feel free â and I can bike around the city, something I couldnât do back home in Pakistan.â
Zafar is now working with a health tech company and spends her weekends exploring beaches like Governorâs Bay with a cup of tea in hand.
âI love it here.â
https://www.propertynoise.co.nz/auckland-cv-controversy-why-tens-of-thousands-of-homes-may-be-wildly-overvalued/
đ Cheaper Homes, Remote Work, and Lifestyle Galore
According to Christchurch real estate agent Andrew Swift, the migration trend is unmistakable:
âWeâre still a relatively new city post-quake, with huge potential. First-home buyers can get into the market without drowning in debt.â
He notes that the rise of remote work post-Covid has made it easier for people to live where they want â not where their job dictates.
Hot suburbs like New Brighton and Hillmorton are now on the radar, offering homes between $550,000â$770,000 â a bargain compared to Aucklandâs bloated market.
âOne brick home in Hillmorton just attracted nine offers â most were young families escaping the big city,â Swift said.
https://www.propertynoise.co.nz/boom-outside-the-big-cities-regional-property-prices-set-to-outpace-auckland-wellington/
đ Auckland Still Growing â But at What Cost?
While Auckland continues to grow thanks to 98,565 births and 90,366 migrants over the same five-year period, the steady outflow of domestic residents raises questions about the cityâs future.
The takeaway? For thousands of New Zealanders, the South Island isn’t just an alternative â itâs the dream.
đĄ Thinking of making the move?
You’re not alone â and with housing affordability, work-life balance, and lifestyle all tipping southward, this trend is only just beginning.
Got your own story of swapping city stress for southern serenity? Email us â weâd love to hear it.
SOURCE: STUFF