Moving to New Zealand from Vanuatu
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Vanuatu to New Zealand — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Vanuatu to New Zealand. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Wellington averages 62°F vs 83°F in Port Vila, making it significantly cooler.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from Vanuatu to New Zealand, based on official data.
people moved from Vanuatu to New Zealand · OECD (latest data available)
Who's moving to New Zealand?
Top countries of origin for New Zealand's foreign-born residents.
- 286,746
- 144,207
- 122,506
- 85,289
- 73,846
- 70,412
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Vanuatu to New Zealand.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Vanuatu generally does better on safety, though New Zealand leads in road traffic deaths.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
New Zealand generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Vanuatu leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Vanuatu generally does better on environment, though New Zealand leads in air pollution deaths.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
share of households with internet
New Zealand performs significantly better than Vanuatu across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
New Zealand performs significantly better than Vanuatu 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
New Zealand performs significantly better than Vanuatu across all family life metrics.
Data: 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 | Port Vila | Wellington |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 86°/74°F (30°/23°C) | 69°/58°F (21°/14°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 82°/70°F (28°/21°C) | 59°/49°F (15°/10°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 79°/67°F (26°/19°C) | 56°/46°F (13°/8°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 84°/71°F (29°/22°C) | 64°/53°F (18°/12°C) |
View all months
| Month | Port Vila | Wellington |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 87°/74°F (30.3°/23.4°C) | 70°/58°F (21.2°/14.7°C) |
| Feb | 86°/74°F (30.2°/23.6°C) | 70°/59°F (21.3°/14.8°C) |
| Mar | 86°/74°F (29.9°/23.4°C) | 68°/56°F (19.8°/13.5°C) |
| Apr | 84°/72°F (28.9°/22.5°C) | 63°/53°F (17.4°/11.5°C) |
| May | 82°/70°F (27.7°/21.3°C) | 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.7°C) |
| Jun | 80°/69°F (26.7°/20.5°C) | 56°/46°F (13.1°/7.9°C) |
| Jul | 79°/67°F (25.9°/19.5°C) | 54°/44°F (12.3°/6.9°C) |
| Aug | 79°/67°F (26.1°/19.3°C) | 55°/45°F (12.9°/7.4°C) |
| Sep | 80°/67°F (26.7°/19.6°C) | 58°/48°F (14.5°/8.8°C) |
| Oct | 82°/69°F (27.8°/20.6°C) | 60°/50°F (15.8°/10.0°C) |
| Nov | 84°/71°F (28.9°/21.7°C) | 64°/53°F (17.5°/11.4°C) |
| Dec | 85°/72°F (29.7°/22.4°C) | 67°/56°F (19.6°/13.5°C) |
Data:
Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-hazards Department,
New Zealand National Meteorological Service
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Vanuatu 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.
Vanuatu passport holder visiting New Zealand
Visa Required
New Zealand passport holder visiting Vanuatu
Visa FreeData: 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?
Vanuatu generally does better on safety, though New Zealand leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in New Zealand is 1.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.3 in Vanuatu.
How is healthcare in New Zealand compared to Vanuatu?
New Zealand generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Vanuatu leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 35.7 doctors per 10,000 people in New Zealand, compared to 1.6 in Vanuatu. New Zealand scores 85 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Vanuatu: 47).
What's the weather like in New Zealand compared to Vanuatu?
The average high temperature in Wellington is 62°F, compared to 83°F in Port Vila. Wellington receives around 37.7 in of rainfall per year, while Port Vila gets 87.5 in.
What language do they speak in New Zealand?
The official languages in New Zealand are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language. In Vanuatu, the official languages are Bislama, English and French.
