Knowing what motivates migrants to choose New Zealand as their desired destination and examining the challenges they undergo while settling into their new home are important factors that contribute to our understanding of the migration experience. Moreover, identifying the initial information needs of particular groups of migrants will provide insight into the individual experiences of segments of New Zealand’s population. This knowledge is critical to delivering effective New Zealand immigration services and the country’s ability to provide appropriate settlement information customised to meet the individual needs of migrants. This chapter examines migrant motivations and the pathways migrants take to gain residence in New Zealand. Variables include:
• information pertaining to migrants’ previous temporary permits
• migrants’ main reasons for applying for New Zealand residence
• migrants’ information sources about New Zealand
• whether migrants had friends and family in New Zealand
• migrants’ reasons for living at their first and current addresses • migrants’ initial settlement intentions.
Key Results
- Most migrants (80 percent) held some form of temporary permit in the three years before gaining residence, with over half having held a temporary work permit.
- The three most common reasons migrants chose New Zealand were the relaxed pace of life or lifestyle (44 percent), the climate or clean, green environment (40 percent), and to provide a better future for their children (39 percent).
- Fifty-six percent of all migrants sourced prearrival information from family and friends living in New Zealand. The internet, including the Immigration New Zealand website, was an important source of information, especially for skilled migrants.
- About two-thirds of all migrants and almost all Pacific category migrants (94 percent) had existing contacts in New Zealand.
- Almost all migrants (99 percent) reported that they had applied for residence in New Zealand only during the past three years.
- Most migrants (88 percent) intended to stay in New Zealand for at least five years.