Moving to New Zealand from Fiji

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Fiji to New Zealand — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Fiji to New Zealand. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Wellington averages 62°F vs 84°F in Suva, making it significantly cooler.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Fiji to New Zealand, based on official data.

Moved in 2023
11,157 ↑ 159% vs 2022

people moved from Fiji to New Zealand · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to New Zealand?

Top countries of origin for New Zealand's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Fiji to New Zealand.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

FJ
2.2
NZ
1.1
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

FJ
5.3
NZ
6.6

Fiji generally does better on safety, though New Zealand leads in homicide rate.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

FJ
$548
NZ
$5,576
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

FJ
8.1
NZ
35.7

Fiji generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Zealand leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

FJ
37.0
NZ
12.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

FJ
1.6t
NZ
6.0t

Fiji generally does better on environment, though New Zealand leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

FJ
2.5
NZ
35.9
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

FJ
0.3%
NZ
8.1%

New Zealand generally does better on infrastructure, though Fiji leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

FJ
4.3%
NZ
3.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

FJ
$13,600
NZ
$48,800

New Zealand generally does better on employment & economy, though Fiji leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

FJ
74.3 yrs
NZ
82.5 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

FJ
10.1
NZ
3.4

New Zealand performs significantly better than Fiji across all family life metrics.

Data: Fiji Revenue & Customs Authority, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Suva Rain: 119.7 in/yr (3040 mm)
84° / 72°F

Avg. annual high / low

Wellington Rain: 37.7 in/yr (957 mm)
62° / 51°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Suva Wellington
Jan–Mar 87°/75°F (31°/24°C) 69°/58°F (21°/14°C)
Apr–Jun 83°/72°F (29°/22°C) 59°/49°F (15°/10°C)
Jul–Sep 80°/69°F (27°/21°C) 56°/46°F (13°/8°C)
Oct–Dec 84°/72°F (29°/22°C) 64°/53°F (18°/12°C)
View all months
Month Suva Wellington
Jan 87°/75°F (30.6°/23.7°C) 70°/58°F (21.2°/14.7°C)
Feb 88°/75°F (31.0°/23.8°C) 70°/59°F (21.3°/14.8°C)
Mar 87°/74°F (30.6°/23.5°C) 68°/56°F (19.8°/13.5°C)
Apr 85°/73°F (29.7°/23.0°C) 63°/53°F (17.4°/11.5°C)
May 83°/72°F (28.3°/22.0°C) 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.7°C)
Jun 82°/71°F (27.6°/21.4°C) 56°/46°F (13.1°/7.9°C)
Jul 80°/69°F (26.5°/20.4°C) 54°/44°F (12.3°/6.9°C)
Aug 80°/69°F (26.6°/20.5°C) 55°/45°F (12.9°/7.4°C)
Sep 81°/70°F (27.0°/20.9°C) 58°/48°F (14.5°/8.8°C)
Oct 82°/71°F (27.8°/21.7°C) 60°/50°F (15.8°/10.0°C)
Nov 84°/72°F (28.9°/22.5°C) 64°/53°F (17.5°/11.4°C)
Dec 86°/74°F (29.8°/23.2°C) 67°/56°F (19.6°/13.5°C)

Data: Fiji Meteorological Service Fiji Meteorological Service, New Zealand National Meteorological Service New Zealand National Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Fiji and New Zealand. To live, work, or study long-term in New Zealand, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check New Zealand's immigration authority.

Fiji passport

Fiji passport holder visiting New Zealand

Visa Required
Fiji passport holders need a visa to enter New Zealand.
New Zealand passport

New Zealand passport holder visiting Fiji

Visa Free
New Zealand passport holders can enter Fiji without a visa.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from New Zealand?

Internet is rarely the blocker — New Zealand has 35.9 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is New Zealand safe for expats?

Fiji generally does better on safety, though New Zealand leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in New Zealand is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 2.2 in Fiji.

How is healthcare in New Zealand compared to Fiji?

Fiji generally does better on health & wellbeing, though New Zealand leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 35.7 doctors per 10,000 people in New Zealand, compared to 8.1 in Fiji. New Zealand scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Fiji: 58).

What's the weather like in New Zealand compared to Fiji?

The average high temperature in Wellington is 62°F, compared to 84°F in Suva. Wellington receives around 37.7 in of rainfall per year, while Suva gets 119.7 in.

What language do they speak in New Zealand?

The official languages in New Zealand are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language. In Fiji, the official languages are English, Fiji Hindi and Fijian.

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At a Glance

FJ NZ
Population 943,737 5,053,004
Currency Fijian Dollar (FJD) New Zealand Dollar (NZ$)
Languages English, Fiji Hindi, Fijian English, Māori, New Zealand Sign Language
Driving side Left Left
Calling code +679 +64
Time zones 1 5
Emergency number 911 111