Nau Mai | Welcome Home

The final report in our post pandemic futures series looks at the challenges and opportunities facing the returning diaspora of Kiwis who have come home due to the COVID 19 pandemic. We are grateful for the support of our partner WSP New Zealand who has made this research possible.

Our report argues if we want to seize this opportunity and keep recently returned talent in Aotearoa we need to:

1. Understand and tap into the potential of the offshore diaspora – by adopting a strategy to strengthen their connections to New Zealand – including for Māori living overseas.
2. Roll out the welcome mat to those who wish to return – by making it as easy as possible to come home, and by greeting those who return with open arms.
3. Develop world-class cities and towns where people want to live – by investing in better infrastructure, improving public and active transport, and ensuring there is affordable, accessible housing for everyone.

You can also download an Easy Read Summary of the report here.

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Latest Media

• The Spinoff: Team of 6 million: How NZ can harness the power of Kiwis living overseas (August, 2021).
• NZ Herald: Holly Walker: Our overseas citizens are not lost to us (August, 2021).
• TVNZ 1 News: More work needed to keep returning Kiwis home post-Covid (August, 2021).
• Newshub: 'Brain drain' reversing for first time in 20 years, but NZ needs to do more to entice Kiwis back from overseas - report (August, 2021).
• Stuff: Returning Kiwis set to create a 'reverse brain drain' (August, 2021).
• Otago Daily Times: Home needs to be the better option (August, 2021).
• Newstalk ZB: Research says we might be plugging the brain drain, but not for long (August, 2021).
• RNZ Morning Report: New Zealand's brain drain has been thrown into reverse - Helen Clark Foundation (August, 2021).