More Than Just a Headline
The mood in New Zealand in 2025 has been pessimistic.
Every day, there's an article online, news coverage or a social media post on the usual culprits: the rising cost of living and the exodus of Kiwis to Australia.
Negative headlines going on about 'New Zealand in Crisis' are amplified daily, which only adds to the general sense of doom and gloom.
Fair enough, there's no sugarcoating the fact that 2025 has been a year of economic uncertainty and slow growth in New Zealand and other OECD countries.
The post-COVID economic downturn, US tariffs, political conflict, and a generally uncertain global economy have contributed to the decline (among other complex factors).
This article by Susan Edmunds at Radio New Zealand does a good job of summarising New Zealand's economic performance of late.
Times are Tough But It's Not All Doom and Gloom
Based on my observations and experience in the immigration industry, yes, some NZ companies are hiring fewer local and offshore staff. Some companies have restructured and downsized their teams and operations, with specific industries more severely affected by the economic downturn than others (e.g., the building and construction sector).
So, is it all going downhill?
Short answer: no.
New Zealand is a resilient nation that punches way above its weight, and is home to thriving businesses of every scale - from solopreneurs building profitable small businesses in their local communities, to medium-sized and multinational companies that continue to weather today's challenging economy.
The headlines don't talk about the small, husband-and-wife-owned building company that is fully booked for local projects well into 2026, or the growing roster of our homegrown consumer brands that are making waves in the global market, or the solopreneur tradies raking in thousands of dollars a week, taking on jobs in their local community, or the countless professionals across all industries helping New Zealand businesses grow with their expertise. There are numerous examples of people excelling in New Zealand, yet their stories are rarely heard or read about.
Onwards and Upwards
From my ongoing experience working with New Zealand businesses of varying sizes, I have noticed that a sense of cautious optimism is beginning to take hold.
As 2026 approaches, the companies I work with—many of which are in industries impacted by current economic challenges—are gradually showing signs of renewed growth. They are increasingly looking to hire more staff, both locally and internationally, to support larger-scale projects planned for the near future. Overall, improvements are on the horizon.
New Zealand is More Than Just a Headline
Yes, times are tough right now - for many people. But delve a little deeper, beyond the headlines and the economic summary of statistics and figures, and what you get is a country of just over 5.2 million people getting on with it and making things happen.
We are more than the sum of our GDP, and far more than soundbites in a 15-second Instagram reel.
New Zealand is not the dumpster fire that the media and internet would have you believe. I'll be the first to admit that it riles me up when I hear expats who have moved to Australia or other parts of the world, and locals (many of whom have significantly benefited from New Zealand), talk about our country as though it has 'failed' them in some way.
So, next time you read a headline bemoaning the 'downfall of New Zealand', ask yourself - is that the true story?
