The relationship shared between Australia and New Zealand is arguably the closest that exists between any two countries in the world. While there may at times be a competitive edge present or some lighthearted jokes made at one another’s expense, these elements exist much in the same way as they do between two siblings. At the end of the day, there is mutual respect and a bond that is as strong as any other. These close ties are perhaps best illustrated by the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement, which enables Australians and New Zealanders to migrate between Australia and New Zealand freely.

For many years, it was New Zealanders who were taking this option up in greater number as Australia was seen to have a better economy, more job opportunities and a more exciting cultural life. However, in recent years, this role has been reversed with more Australians opting to make the move rather than the other way around. This is most likely due to New Zealand’s booming economy and political stability. Additionally, the fact that it is has some beautiful landscapes doesn‘t do it any harm.  As a result of this, there is a need to have the ability to transfer money between the two countries with relative ease. In fact, you may be surprised as to how often money is sent it this direction.

Why are so many Australians sending money to New Zealand?

As a result of this close relationship, it makes sense that there is a high demand to transfer money from Australia to New Zealand. There are approximately 70,000 Australians living in New Zealand on a permanent basis, so money transfer fees and exchange rates have a big role to play in the lives of those expats. Individuals are always looking for the cheapest way to transfer money from Australia to New Zealand, and this should come as no surprise. While banks were the obvious choice for many for a long time, money transfer services are fast becoming the go to option for Australians wanting to send money to New Zealand.

One reason for sending money is when buying property in New Zealand. The difference in fees over the course of paying for a property between a traditional bank and an independent money transfer service can quite literally be thousands of dollars. With so many people wanting to know how to transfer money to NZ for cheap, we decided to put this article together in order to highlight the top five ways. So, without further ado, let’s get started…

Send

Send was founded as recently as 2017 but has quickly established itself as one of Australia’s favourite money transfer services. Send focuses solely on Foreign Exchange (FX) and international transfers, which means that when you use their services, you know that they care.

When compared to traditional banks, they offer better exchange rates, quicker transfer times, fee-free transactions and a dedicated account manager. Moreover, it is incredibly easy to create an account as it only takes a matter of minutes to get yourself started.

Currencies Direct

Currencies Direct have been around since 1996 and handle over £7.5 billion per year. They offer excellent “bank beating” exchange rates and zero transfer fees, which is enough to get anyone’s attention.

Furthermore, they pride themselves on their expert customer support, offering comprehensive guidance whether you transfer money online, over the phone or via their app.

OFX

In addition to offering fantastic exchange rates, OFX have a number of other perks that have made it a popular choice amongst money transferring Australians. For example, they allow you to fix your FX rates for up to 12 months, meaning that you can create cash flow certainty and plan for the future without the risk of a sudden change in the market.

In addition, they offer 24/7 customer support, so no matter what time or day it is, you know that you will be able to speak to someone directly. Both of these result in OFX being a great choice for those who love some peace of mind when it comes to their financial dealings.

World First

World First’s main objective is to make international business payments as easy as possible.

For those who choose to use World First’s services, they have the ability to open one or multiple local currency accounts, and all for free. This allows their users to manage all of their money and FX transfers in one location.

XE Money Transfer

Last but not least, XE Money Transfer, one of the most prominent money transfer services in the world. While there are many benefits to using XE Money Transfer, there are two that we would like to point out in particular.

Firstly, they operate in over 200 countries and support over 130 currencies, so you will be hard pushed to find yourself being unable to use their services. Secondly, they are well known for their ability to send funds quickly and easily. They offer instant money transfers with a maximum delay of just two hours. In the modern age, this is a necessity for some people.

The bottom line

The reason so many Australians are moving away from traditional banks and using money transfer services is simple, they offer the best way to transfer money from Australia to NZ.

Whether it is in terms of exchange rates, customer service, account and transaction fees, or user satisfaction, traditional banks just quite simply can’t compete with what is on offer. Finally, both Australia and New Zealand have embraced the digital age and so it is no surprise to see newer money transfer methods being favoured over traditional banks.