Slower pace sees more Americans eye 'laid-back' Kiwi lifestyle

According to Robert Yang who has been living in New Zealand with his Kiwi partner since 2020, Aotearoa is a distant mysterious land to many Americans.

It's so mysterious that they would believe in funny videos that Yang posts about the country.

In one example, he said most New Zealand cars didn't have any brakes until the 1990s.

"That's just clearly a lie, but it's also something that Americans might believe. I think when Kiwis see my videos, they come in on the joke with me, and hopefully everyone gets a good laugh."

Despite the mystique, in the last decade more Americans are visiting this mysterious country and staying.

Between 2016 to 2025, the total number of citizenships granted in New Zealand has gone up by 62 percent, while the annual number of those who were born in United States and were granted citizenship increased by142 percent.

For the same period, the annual number of Americans who were granted residency doubled from 1230 to 2393.

Moving consultant Tara Hulbert shifted her family of six from Wisconsin to Wellington in 2013, and has since made a career for herself in helping Americans immigrate.

Hulbert said while it's commonly assumed that political leadership changes ignite interest in New Zealand, those are rarely the sole reason that prompts people to get onto that long haul flight.

"I had about 500 people sign up for my webinars after [Donald] Trump was elected [president] both times, so there's a little bit of that, but nobody's moving across the world because of a knee-jerk reaction. This is something that everybody has thought of for a long time, and they've considered it."

Hulbert's business Kiwiamericans offers services from visa applications to pet movers.

She said business has tripled in 2025 and 2026 was also looking strong.

She said New Zealand has many drawcards for Americans.

"I would say most of the time it's pace and lifestyle. There's a hustle work life in the US and burnout is real, especially in certain industries, and they're looking for work-life balance. Which as an American who's lived in New Zealand, it's real.

"And New Zealand immigration has opened up. When I moved, there's three options. And if you didn't fit within those boxes, you weren't moving. Now it's way opened up."

'Public safety' strong factor

Cassidy Donnelly is one of Hulbert's clients who will be moving from Texas later this month.

Having never been to New Zealand, Cassidy and her husband Michael decided Aotearoa was the place to be after careful consideration through a matrix of requirements.

"We really took a good look at our needs and what we were looking for and which countries hit those. And New Zealand hit a lot of them. Top ranking and public safety was up there for us. Jobs for myself and my husband. Third on our list was a strong education system. We have a three-year-old son, so we're really excited to get him immersed in the New Zealand culture. And then lastly, could we bring our dog was also important to us."

Cassidy is a software engineer, a job on the green list which makes it easy to get residency. Michael has 12 years' experience as butcher, and he's confident he will land a job once he's in New Zealand.

Cassidy said they would definitely consider becoming permanent residents or even citizens in the future, giving their son an option to choose where he would like to live.

Two weeks from boarding their flight, there's plenty about New Zealand the family is looking forward to.

"I'm excited about experiencing everything New Zealand culture has to offer, from housing to community, to food to nature. We love being outside so the beaches, the mountains. And I know for my husband, he's excited about the agriculture and food scene, he can't wait to eat all the meat pies."

The attraction of New Zealand has also brought the country many well-known Americans.

In 2011 tech-billionaire Peter Thiel was granted citizenship controversially after spending only 11 days in New Zealand.

Thiel isn't just a dual citizen of the US and New Zealand, he also holds German citizenship and now lives in Argentina.

'I like how laid-back it is'

While Robert Yang's name may not sound as familiar as Thiel's, a 2021 article in the Spinoff crowned him "the biggest queer game developer in the world".

Moving from New York to Auckland is a big change for the game developer. Yang had to give up his job at New York University, but he's happy with the compromise.

"I like how laid-back it (New Zealand) is. I like how much more relaxed it is compared to America. It is a pay cut. I do make less money than in America, but I think it's worth it."

Despite building a career in constructing virtual worlds, Yang said he was drawn by New Zealand's nature.

"Personally, for me, Covid, that experience of just being trapped inside made me yearn for nature and reconnecting with the world. And I think that's also one other reason why I wanted to move to New Zealand, just to have a different relationship with nature and the world around me. And I feel like New Zealand culture really speaks to that."

Yang said most New Zealanders welcomed Americans like him with open arms, but for those who were more hesitant, he has a few thoughts to share.

"I'm sure to a lot of New Zealanders, Americans invading New Zealand is kind of annoying and unpleasant. And I get that, that's an understandable reaction.

"But I hope New Zealanders can give Americans like me a chance to adapt, to fit in a little bit better. Like many immigrants coming to New Zealand, I think we all have a lot to offer this country. And we're grateful to be here. We just want the same chance as everyone else."