The issue has become a hot topic in New Zealand after a spokesperson confirmed that former female Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has moved to Australia with her family for work. Scholars say this symbolizes the failure to retain human resources, underscoring the brain drain crisis amid soaring living costs and a sluggish economy that have forced over 60,000 New Zealanders to leave their homeland.
Jacinda Ardern's office confirmed that she and her family, including her husband Clarke Gayford and their seven-year-old daughter Neve, have relocated to Australia after reports surfaced that the Ardern family was seen viewing homes in Sydney's Northern Beaches area.
A personal spokesperson stated that the move was due to work commitments there and would also make it easier for them to fly back to New Zealand for visits. However, they did not specify when the relocation began or the exact positions they hold, emphasizing that it is normal for former leaders to spend time abroad after leaving office.
The relocation of this iconic former leader is viewed as highly sensitive because New Zealand is currently experiencing record-high emigration rates. Last year, about 66,000 Kiwis left the country—averaging 180 per day—with over 60 percent choosing Australia due to its higher average weekly income and easier work and residency rights.
Alan Gamlen, Director of the Migration Research Centre at the Australian National University, commented, "Ardern's move is symbolic of the broader trend. For some, this may be seen as abandoning the country in difficult times."
The main factors driving this brain drain phenomenon are the economic downturn and soaring living costs beyond what people can bear. New Zealand is facing its highest unemployment rate in a decade (excluding the COVID-19 period), while grocery and consumer goods prices rank among the highest in developed countries.
Additionally, a housing shortage has caused both purchase prices and rents to surge, leaving younger generations hopeless about owning their own homes. Inequality in public healthcare and education systems is also widening.
Jacinda Ardern became the world's youngest female leader in 2017 and emerged as a global liberal icon through her handling of the Christchurch mosque shootings and the COVID-19 pandemic. However, toward the end of her tenure, she faced immense pressure due to failures in addressing housing issues and severe anti-vaccine protests, leading her to resign in 2023, citing exhaustion.
Currently, Ardern remains active on the world stage as a visiting professor at Harvard University, continuing the Christchurch Call initiative against online extremism, and she released her memoir in 2025.
. . .The Guardian/BBC