Moving to Macau from New Zealand
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from New Zealand to Macau — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from New Zealand to Macau, and you’d need to navigate life in Chinese and Portuguese. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Macao averages 77°F vs 62°F in Wellington, making it significantly warmer.
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Key Indicator Comparison
How New Zealand and Macau stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
Macau performs significantly better than New Zealand across all safety metrics.
What about the environment?
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Macau performs significantly better than New Zealand across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
New Zealand performs better than Macau across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
Macau performs significantly better than New Zealand across all employment & economy metrics.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
Macau generally does better on family life, though New Zealand leads in infant mortality.
Data: New Zealand Inland Revenue Department, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Wellington | Macao |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 69°/58°F (21°/14°C) | 66°/57°F (19°/14°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 59°/49°F (15°/10°C) | 82°/73°F (28°/23°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 56°/46°F (13°/8°C) | 88°/78°F (31°/26°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 64°/53°F (18°/12°C) | 74°/64°F (23°/18°C) |
View all months
| Month | Wellington | Macao |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 70°/58°F (21.2°/14.7°C) | 64°/54°F (17.7°/12.2°C) |
| Feb | 70°/59°F (21.3°/14.8°C) | 64°/56°F (17.7°/13.1°C) |
| Mar | 68°/56°F (19.8°/13.5°C) | 69°/61°F (20.7°/16.2°C) |
| Apr | 63°/53°F (17.4°/11.5°C) | 76°/68°F (24.5°/20.2°C) |
| May | 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.7°C) | 83°/74°F (28.1°/23.6°C) |
| Jun | 56°/46°F (13.1°/7.9°C) | 87°/78°F (30.3°/25.7°C) |
| Jul | 54°/44°F (12.3°/6.9°C) | 89°/79°F (31.5°/26.3°C) |
| Aug | 55°/45°F (12.9°/7.4°C) | 88°/79°F (31.2°/26.0°C) |
| Sep | 58°/48°F (14.5°/8.8°C) | 86°/77°F (30.0°/24.9°C) |
| Oct | 60°/50°F (15.8°/10.0°C) | 81°/72°F (27.4°/22.3°C) |
| Nov | 64°/53°F (17.5°/11.4°C) | 74°/64°F (23.4°/17.8°C) |
| Dec | 67°/56°F (19.6°/13.5°C) | 67°/57°F (19.6°/13.8°C) |
Data:
New Zealand National Meteorological Service,
Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between New Zealand and Macau. To live, work, or study long-term in Macau, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Macau's immigration authority.
New Zealand passport holder visiting Macau
Visa Free
Macau passport holder visiting New Zealand
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work remotely from Macau?
With 30.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Macau can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in New Zealand and Macau.
Is Macau safe for expats?
Macau performs significantly better than New Zealand across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Macau is 0.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in New Zealand.
What's the weather like in Macau compared to New Zealand?
The average high temperature in Macao is 77°F, compared to 62°F in Wellington. Macao receives around 83.6 in of rainfall per year, while Wellington gets 37.7 in.
What language do they speak in Macau?
The official languages in Macau are Chinese and Portuguese. In New Zealand, the official languages are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language.
