New report warns about New Zealand potentially losing the 'future' of its public services
New Zealand is at risk of losing its future workforce after a new union survey revealed that its young public servants are considering leaving the country for better pay.
The poll by the Public Service Association (PSA) found that 49% of employees under 25 are thinking about leaving, along with 44% of those aged 25 to 34.
"These are the nurses, social workers, corrections officers, and home support workers who should be the future of our public services - instead they're looking to Australia where they'll be paid thousands more and treated with respect," said PSA National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons in a statement.
Overall, the PSA report found that 27% of public service workers are thinking of leaving New Zealand for better pay.
"Behind these survey numbers sit thousands of stories of lost potential," Fitzsimons said.
"These are people educated in New Zealand who have developed critical skills and experience - scientists, care workers, meat inspectors, health professionals, corrections staff. Once they're gone, that expertise walks out the door and may never come back."
Australia-New Zealand pay gap blamed
The PSA pinned the situation to the pay gap between New Zealand and Australia.
According to Fitzsimons, a mental health nurse in New Zealand is only earning a starting salary of $77,000, while those in Melbourne are earning $93,000.
Prison officers in New Zealand also start between $70,000 and $80,000, much lower than the $97,000 starting salary offered in Australia's Victoria State.
"The pay gap with Australia is so large, and conditions here are deteriorating so fast, that people are making permanent moves," Fitzsimons said.
"The Government cannot plug these gaps by recruiting from overseas when our pay rates are so far behind. You can't underpay your own workforce and then expect to attract talent from abroad."
The findings come amid historical data showing that more people have left New Zealand to live in Australia than have come the other way.
Stats NZ data shows that in the September 2025 year alone, New Zealand recorded a net migration loss of 28,900 people to Australia, with 48,200 departures against just 19,300 arrivals.
"The provisional net migration loss to Australia in the September 2025 year was made up of a net loss of 28,500 New Zealand citizens, and a net loss of 400 non-New Zealand citizens," Stats NZ said.
'Relentless attacks' on workers' rights
Meanwhile, the PSA further attributed the situation to recent moves from the government that it dubbed as "relentless attacks" on public servants' rights, pay, and conditions.
These moves include slashing public sector spending and eliminating thousands of jobs in the public service, as well as ripping up pay equity rules.
The PSA also blamed the sick leave and holiday pay cuts for part-time and irregular workers under the proposed Employment Relations Amendment Bill.
The "weakening" of personal grievance protections under the Employment Relations Amendment Act and the watered-down safety obligations of employers under the Health and Safety At Work Act are also contributing factors, according to the union.
"ACT, NZ First and National have systematically come after working New Zealanders. These survey results and talent drain are the consequence," Fitzsimons said.
"The Government needs to wake up before it's too late - you cannot build a prosperous country by driving away the people who make it work."
