Fairly opinionated framing given:

  as the country grapples with record numbers of citizens leaving the country because of a weak economy, high living costs and high unemployment.

  More than 60% of those moved to Australia, where average weekly incomes are higher and New Zealand citizens have work and residency rights.

  The spokesperson did not elaborate on when the family arrived in Australia nor what kind of work they were doing, but noted it was not unusual for former leaders to spend time overseas after leaving office.

New Zealand has always been a place people with talent leave (and often return to upon retirement or making a fortune).

eg: Ernest left in his post grad years: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Rutherford

s/she’s so reviled by New Zealanders/she was targeted by online extremists who threatened her family/