Mobile relocation - How can we retain returning Kiwis?

Bridget Romanes, founder of Mobile Relocation, talks to Tribe about how we can retain returning Kiwis and explains more about Brain Gain.

Video Transcript

Pre-Covid, New Zealand imported international talent, that was our brain gain. We brought in people from many parts of the world to do roles. Those opportunities are just not there at the moment; our immigration settings are very tight. So returning Kiwis en-masse are a great opportunity for employers.

What I'd also like to highlight is that it's not just the returning Kiwis, it's their spouses too. Often, New Zealand is getting two for the price of one in terms of the people who are returning.

There's a bit of debate around Brain Gain, which I would like to address, and that is: are these people going to stay? I think there are a couple of issues there which employers should think about in terms of harnessing the Brain Gain. One is: does it actually matter whether they stay or not? Even if they stay here for a couple of years, that’s talent you may not have had access to otherwise.

They are not necessarily chasing the big dollar; they’ve realised realistically that they are not going to be paid the same amount, and they are coming back to settle here.

The ability for us to hold on to those people, particularly if they’ve got families and spouses, is not so much about the role and the job because they are generally realistic about what they will be doing workwise. It’s about making sure they’ve settled here really well: that spouses can find great jobs, the kids are happy in school, and they find somewhere they enjoy living. That’s what’s going to hold them here.

Because Covid may go on for a couple more years, that gives us in New Zealand the opportunity to get those people embedded into life here, so that even if the job opportunities are there elsewhere, they’re home, they’re settled, and they’re staying here.

This video was filmed in April 2021. Bridget Romanes from Mobile Relocation works with individuals and families at all stages of their move to New Zealand. Providing coaching, knowledge, contacts and the confidence newcomers need to establish themselves here.