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Evidence · Immigration

Immigration: questions, answers and evidence

Read all 797 original answers and the tables behind the findings. The 27 missing answers are from the China comparison on three platforms.

questions
143
captured answers
797
missing responses
27
answers collected
15–20 October 2026

01

Every question, with its answers

Each question was written as a voter would ask it and went to all four assistants. Some were also asked from a town. Open a question to read every answer to it in full.

Showing 20 of 143 questions

Show all 143

02

The tables behind the study

Every figure on the study page comes from these tables. They are CSV files, which open in any spreadsheet.

  • Complete AI answers

    answers.csv

    One complete original answer, with the question, platform, country setting and migrant profile.

    question_id, surface_code, location_ref, result_id, prompt_id, platform, scan_id, collection_panel, question_text, response_text

    797rows

    Download complete ai answers (CSV)

  • The questions we asked

    question-catalogue.csv

    One question with the migrant profile, wording and purpose.

    question_id, question_version, group_id, case_id, asked_for, output_id, module_ids, category, wording_style, prompt_set, collection_panel, comparison_id, exact_text, distinguishing_facts, stated_facts, tags, status

    143rows

    Download the questions we asked (CSV)

  • Planned questions, platforms and countries

    execution-assignments.csv

    One question, platform and country we planned to collect an answer from.

    question_id, collection_panel, location_name, location_ref, surface, surface_code

    824rows

    Download planned questions, platforms and countries (CSV)

  • The 27 missing answers

    missing-cells.csv

    One expected answer that was not collected.

    question_id, collection_panel, location_name, location_ref, surface, surface_code

    27rows

    Download the 27 missing answers (CSV)

  • Locations named for each migrant profile

    location-by-persona.csv

    How often a place was named in the twelve New Zealand answers for each migrant profile.

    persona, place, answers, denominator, wording_styles, wording_count, surface_count

    342rows

    Download locations named for each migrant profile (CSV)

  • Locations named across question wordings

    location-by-wording.csv

    One profile, platform and place, showing which versions of the question led to an answer naming the place.

    persona, surface, place, answers, denominator, wording_styles

    1,368rows

    Download locations named across question wordings (CSV)

  • Locations named by collection country

    location-by-region.csv

    One place and country setting; the China comparison has nine answers on Google AI Mode only.

    region, place, answers, denominator, surfaces

    304rows

    Download locations named by collection country (CSV)

  • Eight countries on Google AI Mode

    location-ai-mode-eight-regions.csv

    One place and country across the same nine questions on Google AI Mode.

    region, place, answers, denominator

    304rows

    Download eight countries on google ai mode (CSV)

  • Matched local and overseas answers

    matched-region-answer-pairs.csv

    A New Zealand answer alongside the same question and platform using another country setting.

    region, surface, persona, question_id, result_id, nz_result_id, same_place_set, jaccard, added_names, omitted_names

    261rows

    Download matched local and overseas answers (CSV)

  • Topics explicitly raised in the answers

    signals-by-output-platform.csv

    How often selected words and phrases appeared, by topic and platform.

    output, surface, signal, answers, denominator

    1,120rows

    Download topics explicitly raised in the answers (CSV)

  • Topics raised for each migrant profile

    signals-by-persona-output.csv

    How often selected words and phrases appeared, by migrant profile and topic.

    output, persona, signal, answers, denominator

    1,876rows

    Download topics raised for each migrant profile (CSV)

  • Website addresses in captured answers

    captured-answer-links.csv

    Web addresses saved in the original answers, with image and file links identified.

    question_id, result_id, prompt_id, surface, surface_code, region, output, persona, wording, panel, words, raw_page, transcript, url, domain, host_class, image_or_asset

    2,003rows

    Download website addresses in captured answers (CSV)

  • Extra table: links excluding images and files

    captured-links-by-platform.csv

    One platform across the same 143 New Zealand questions. The table excludes image and file links; the main Sources section counts those links.

    surface, denominator, answers_with_links, answers_with_govt_links

    4rows

    Download extra table: links excluding images and files (CSV)

  • Captured answer lengths

    platform-answer-length.csv

    One platform across the same 143 local questions.

    surface, answers, median_words, mean_words

    4rows

    Download captured answer lengths (CSV)

  • Recorded websites by answer

    sources-by-answer.csv

    Each website recorded as a source for an answer, with the page addresses and number of statements linked to the website.

    question_id, result_id, prompt_id, surface, surface_code, region, output, persona, wording, panel, words, raw_page, transcript, domain, publisher, claim_count, source_urls

    1,462rows

    Download recorded websites by answer (CSV)

  • Recorded sources and their original claims

    source-claim-ledger.csv

    Sources attached to individual statements, with the original answer, quotation and source passage.

    narrative_id, claim_id, question_id, result_id, prompt_id, surface, surface_code, region, output, persona, wording, panel, words, raw_page, transcript, domain, url, source_passage, claim_quote, quote_exact

    3,105rows

    Download recorded sources and their original claims (CSV)

  • Answers with sources and answers with links

    source-answer-coverage.csv

    Each New Zealand answer, showing whether sources were recorded and whether the answer text contains a web link.

    question_id, result_id, prompt_id, surface, surface_code, region, output, persona, wording, panel, words, raw_page, transcript, associated_websites, had_sources, literal_url_answer

    572rows

    Download answers with sources and answers with links (CSV)

  • Website publisher classifications

    source-publisher-classification.csv

    Each website, the type of organisation behind the website and the reason for the category. Unconfirmed types remain Other.

    domain, publisher, basis, source

    332rows

    Download website publisher classifications (CSV)

  • Tone toward each place

    place-sentiment-ledger.csv

    One named place in one answer, with the positive, neutral, negative or mixed label, supporting passages and reason. All 108 New Zealand answers about where to live were reviewed.

    result_id, question_id, prompt_id, persona, assistant, region, place, stance, paragraph_numbers, supporting_passages, display_passage, reason, answer_sha256, reviewed_on

    630rows

    Download tone toward each place (CSV)

  • Facts supplied in each question

    prompt-reporting-eligibility.csv

    Every question, with corrected descriptions of the facts stated and limits on interpreting its answers.

    question_id, reviewed_on, prompt_sha256, original_stated_facts, corrected_stated_facts, metadata_changed, destination_explicit, descriptive_counts_included, interpretation_rule

    143rows

    Download facts supplied in each question (CSV)

  • Sources across question styles

    source-wording-incidence.csv

    One website, profile, topic and platform, with answer totals, question styles and the original answer references.

    persona, output, surface, domain, answers_with_source, eligible_answers, wording_styles_with_source, eligible_wording_styles, observed_styles, eligible_styles, answer_ids, by_style

    2,144rows

    Download sources across question styles (CSV)

  • Questions with corrected fact descriptions

    question-catalogue-reviewed.csv

    The unchanged original question text with fact descriptions reviewed on 28 October 2026.

    question_id, question_version, group_id, case_id, asked_for, output_id, module_ids, category, wording_style, prompt_set, collection_panel, comparison_id, exact_text, distinguishing_facts, stated_facts, tags, status

    143rows

    Download questions with corrected fact descriptions (CSV)

  • Statements checked against official sources

    statement-checks.csv

    One checked statement, with its exact passage, verdict, official source, review date and original answer reference.

    check_id, measure_id, question_checked, result_id, prompt_id, question_id, persona, assistant, wording, exact_statement, verdict, what_the_source_says, source_name, source_url, checked_on, answer_sha256

    47rows

    Download statements checked against official sources (CSV)

  • Policy questions covered by the checks

    statement-measures.csv

    One policy question, showing checked statements, original answers and the question wordings represented.

    measure_id, question_checked, checked_statements, distinct_answers, wording_styles_with_checked_assertions, wording_styles, answer_ids, question_ids, scope

    27rows

    Download policy questions covered by the checks (CSV)

Use the question and answer numbers to follow the evidence between tables. Locations named in warnings and comparisons count. Sources attached to an answer and web links in the answer text are counted separately.

03

The reviewed evidence

We read all 108 New Zealand answers about where to live to assess the tone toward each named place. A separate selection of 41 answers explores practical advice and contrasts across topics. The original policy checks were made on 22 October and expanded on 28 October 2026; verdicts cover selected statements, not every answer.

ChatGPT · New Zealand country setting

is postgraduate study in New Zealand worth it with an undergraduate degree and a limited budget if I want a career there afterwards?

Is postgraduate study in New Zealand worth it if you have a limited budget?

It can be worth it, but only if the qualification improves your chances of getting a job in New Zealand enough to justify the cost. If you already have an undergraduate degree, I wouldn't automatically recommend paying for a postgraduate qualification just to get into the country or improve your chances of staying.

The key is to treat postgraduate study as both an education decision and a career-and-immigration investment.

With a limited budget, I'd focus on three questions:

  • Employability: Will the qualification help you get a job in a field where New Zealand employers are hiring?
  • Immigration: Does the specific qualification and your intended occupation fit the current work and residence pathways?
  • Financial return: Can you afford tuition and living costs without relying on getting a job immediately after graduation?

My general advice is to investigate jobs you could get with your existing degree before spending money on another one. Sometimes, a targeted postgraduate qualification is valuable; sometimes, work experience, professional registration or applying directly for jobs is a better investment.

1. The biggest factor is your field of study

Situation Is postgraduate study worth considering?
Your undergraduate degree is already employable in New Zealand Try applying for jobs first.
You need a specific qualification to enter your target profession Potentially, especially if the qualification leads to professional registration.
Your degree is unrelated to the career you want A carefully chosen conversion programme may help, but check graduate outcomes first.
You mainly want a pathway to residence Be cautious. A postgraduate degree alone does not guarantee a job or residency.
You have little savings and would need debt to cover everything Avoid committing until you have a realistic financial plan.

Fields such as healthcare, engineering, education, construction and information technology have occupations worth investigating against New Zealand's current skilled-immigration pathways. However, demand varies by occupation, experience, location and employer. A qualification in one of these broad fields is not automatically a route to employment or residence. Getting New Zealand residence through your skills :: Immigration New ZealandSkilled residence pathways in New Zealand :: Immigration New Zealand

2. What would it cost?

If you're an international student paying overseas tuition fees, the financial commitment can be substantial.

Illustrative budget for one year of study

Tuition fees

$20,000–$45,000

Living expenses

$18,000–$27,000

Estimated total

$38,000–$72,000

NZ dollars, using published study-cost estimates. This excludes some additional expenses, such as flights, visa fees and initial setup costs. Actual fees and living costs vary. Tuition fees and cost of living

That is a significant investment, especially if you need to study for more than one year.

A student visa may allow you to work up to 25 hours a week, depending on its conditions, but I would not build your entire budget around part-time earnings. You still need to cover tuition, living expenses and periods when you cannot find enough work.

A useful rule: choose a programme you can afford even if finding a suitable job takes longer than expected.

3. Will studying in New Zealand help you stay and work afterwards?

Potentially, yes — but you need to choose the qualification carefully.

For international students, Immigration New Zealand's Post Study Work Visa rules generally depend on the qualification, level of study and how long you studied in New Zealand. Eligible degree-level qualifications can provide post-study work rights, subject to the relevant conditions. Qualifications needed for a Post-Study Work Visa :: Immigration New Zealand

There is also an important upcoming change: from 16 November 2026, eligible graduates who hold a bachelor's degree and complete a qualifying Level 7 graduate diploma in New Zealand may become eligible for a Post Study Work Visa of up to one year. New and updated post-study work visa options :: Immigration New Zealand

Before paying a deposit, verify:

  • The exact qualification and provider are eligible for the visa you intend to apply for.
  • The length of your post-study work rights.
  • Whether your target job requires registration or a particular qualification.
  • Whether your likely job and salary could meet a skilled residence pathway.

New Zealand's skilled residence pathways generally require a qualifying job or job offer, and the relevant pay, qualification, experience or registration requirements. A master's degree by itself does not guarantee residence. Getting New Zealand residence through your skills :: Immigration New ZealandGetting New Zealand residence through the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) :: Immigration New Zealand

Official resources:

4. How I'd approach this with a limited budget

I'd work through these steps before enrolling.

  1. Investigate your existing degree first. Search for New Zealand job advertisements matching your qualification and experience. Note whether employers require local qualifications, local experience or professional registration.
  2. Identify the smallest useful qualification. Compare a postgraduate certificate, graduate diploma and master's degree. Don't assume the shortest or cheapest course will provide the work rights or career outcome you need.
  3. Compare total costs, not just tuition. Include rent, food, insurance, transport, visa fees, travel and an emergency reserve.
  4. Look for funding. Check university scholarships, research funding and any scholarships for which you're eligible. PhD funding and domestic-student fees may differ substantially from international taught-programme fees.
  5. Check the job market before committing. Look at current job advertisements, employer requirements and graduate outcomes, rather than relying on a university's general claims about career prospects.

5. Let's make this specific to you

Your undergraduate subject and financial situation will make a much bigger difference to the answer than the fact that you already have a degree.

Tell me a little about your situation

With those details, I can help you compare whether to study in New Zealand, use your existing degree to apply for jobs directly, or consider a lower-cost route — with the aim of building a career there without taking on unnecessary financial risk.

Ask anything

ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.

Captured 15–20 October 2026

Gemini · New Zealand country setting

is postgraduate study in New Zealand worth it with an undergraduate degree and a limited budget if I want a career there afterwards?

Whether postgraduate study in New Zealand is "worth it" on a limited budget with the goal of securing a long-term career depends heavily on what you study, how you finance it, and whether your field maps directly to New Zealand's structural skill shortages.

Because New Zealand's job market is relatively small, a blanket "yes" or "no" does not apply. However, evaluating it through the lens of a tight budget and career establishment reveals clear conditions for success.

1. The Financial Reality on a Limited Budget

  • Upfront Costs: Postgraduate tuition for international students generally ranges from NZD $26,000 to $45,000+ per year depending on the discipline, while domestic students pay significantly less (roughly NZD $5,000 to $10,000 per year). Living expenses add another NZD $15,000 to $25,000 annually.
  • The Part-Time Work Offset: Student visas typically permit working up to 25 hours per week during the academic term and full-time during scheduled breaks. On a tight budget, part-time work is usually mandatory to offset living costs, but relying on it to cover high international tuition fees is risky and often unrealistic.
  • Budget Strategy: If funds are severely limited, targeting shorter qualifications (like a 1-year Postgraduate Diploma or a targeted 180-credit Master’s) or seeking regional universities with lower cost-of-living profiles can drastically reduce your financial exposure compared to multi-year commitments in major hubs like Auckland.

2. Alignment with the Local Job Market & Post-Study Work

Having an undergraduate degree already gives you a foundational professional profile. Adding a postgraduate degree is only "worth it" locally if it bridges a distinct gap.

  • The Green List & Skill Shortages: New Zealand’s employment market prioritizes sectors experiencing chronic shortages—particularly Health/Nursing, Engineering, ICT/Data Science, and specific STEM fields. If your postgraduate study is tightly coupled with these fields, employers actively look to graduate pipelines.
  • Post-Study Work Rights: Graduating with a Level 7 or higher qualification (such as a bachelor's honours, postgraduate diploma, or master's degree) from an approved New Zealand institution makes you eligible for a Post-Study Work Visa (typically valid for 1 to 3 years depending on the level of study). This provides the legal window required to transition into a permanent career.
  • The Catch-22 of Generalist Degrees: If your postgraduate study is in a broad, non-specialized field (like a general MBA without prior work experience or theoretical humanities), local employers often value direct work experience just as much or more. On a tight budget, a generalist postgrad degree carries a poor return on investment because entry-level salaries in New Zealand may not quickly recover the debt or savings spent.

When Postgraduate Study Is Worth It on a Budget

  1. You target a high-demand, vocational shortage area: Your postgrad qualification leads directly to professional registration or technical expertise that New Zealand is actively importing (e.g., specific engineering fields, IT specializations, or allied health).
  2. You leverage regional institutions: Studying outside Auckland or Wellington can significantly lower your rent and living expenses while often offering better integration into regional employer networks and potential immigration advantages.
  3. You treat it as an economic bridge: You view the qualification primarily as a legal and professional mechanism to activate post-study work rights, build a local network, and secure an employer-backed pathway.

When You Should Skip or Delay It

  • You are funding it through high-interest debt or precarious savings: If running out of money mid-degree forces you to drop out, you will be left with sunken costs and no local credential.
  • Your undergraduate degree is already sufficient for entry-level work: In many business, marketing, and general tech roles, New Zealand employers heavily emphasize portfolio, soft skills, and baseline experience over an extra academic tier. Direct job hunting or targeting graduate programs with an existing undergraduate degree avoids unnecessary tuition debt.
Ask Gemini

Gemini is AI and can make mistakes.

Captured 15–20 October 2026

Google AI Mode · New Zealand country setting

is postgraduate study in New Zealand worth it with an undergraduate degree and a limited budget if I want a career there afterwards?

Postgraduate study in New Zealand with a limited budget is generally a high-risk financial investment if your primary goal is simply securing a local career, because an undergraduate degree often suffices for entry-level work and postgraduate tuition combined with living costs creates a heavy financial burden.

Whether it is "worth it" depends heavily on your specific field, whether you already hold local work rights, and whether you can leverage alternative pathways instead of taking on immediate student debt or exhausting sparse savings.

Financial Realities on a Limited Budget

  • Tuition Costs: Postgraduate domestic or international tuition ranges from NZ$20,000 to over NZ$45,000 per year depending on the discipline (with professional masters or lab-heavy sciences leaning higher).

  • Living Expenses: Rent, food, and transport across New Zealand add another NZ$15,000 to NZ$20,000+ annually , making a 1-to-2-year master’s degree a steep cash commitment.

  • Opportunity Cost: Being out of the full-time workforce or restricted to part-time work (up to 20 hours/week if on a student visa) strains tight financial reserves.

Career Impact and ROI by Scenario

  • When it IS worth it: If your undergraduate degree is in a completely unrelated field and you need a recognized professional conversion qualification (e.g., teaching, social work, or specific engineering/ICT specialisations), or if your target industry explicitly requires a master's for progression. Eligible qualifications also unlock a 3-year Post-Study Work Visa if you are an international graduate, which provides a defined window to secure employment.

  • When it is NOT worth it: If you already possess an employable bachelor's degree (such as general business, arts, or standard science) and are hoping a postgraduate degree will magically overcome a lack of networking or local experience. Many New Zealand employers value practical work experience, soft skills, and cultural fit over higher-tier academic credentials for standard graduate roles.

Strategic Alternatives to Direct Postgraduate Study

  • Direct Job Hunting: If you already hold valid New Zealand work rights (such as citizenship, residency, or an open working holiday visa), applying directly with your undergraduate degree avoids further educational debt.

  • Targeted Short Credentials: Utilizing micro-credentials, industry certifications (especially in tech or project management), or postgraduate certificates (60 credits / 6 months) rather than a full 180-to-240-credit master's degree saves money while signaling upskilling to employers.

  • The Green List Check: Review the New Zealand Immigration Green List to see if your undergraduate qualifications or current skills already align with high-demand, straight-to-residence or work-to-residence shortage roles, bypassing the need for more study. [Go Overseas]

If you'd like to narrow this down, please tell me:

  • What is your undergraduate major and your target career?
  • Do you already have New Zealand citizenship, residency, or working rights , or would you require a student visa?

I can give you a more tailored assessment of your job prospects and budget options.

Ask anything

Captured 15–20 October 2026

AI Overviews · New Zealand country setting

is postgraduate study in New Zealand worth it with an undergraduate degree and a limited budget if I want a career there afterwards?

AI Overview

Postgraduate study in New Zealand is highly worth it if you target the right field, but a limited budget makes it a high-risk strategy. Because you already hold an undergraduate degree, a postgraduate qualification (such as a Master's degree) unlocks a 3-year open Post-Study Work Visa (PSWV) , which is the most secure pathway to building a local career.

However, tight finances present a major hurdle due to strict up-front visa requirements and a high local cost of living. To determine if this path is viable for you, the benefits must be weighed carefully against the financial realities.

The Major Pros: Why It Is Worth It

  • Maximum Post-Study Work Rights: Completing a Master’s degree or higher (Level 9) that lasts at least 30 weeks automatically grants you a 3-year open Post-Study Work Visa. This gives you ample time to secure a professional role without employer sponsorship pressure.
  • The Level 7 Graduate Diploma Alternative: If a 1–2 year Master’s degree is too expensive, Immigration New Zealand permits Level 7 Graduate Diploma holders with a prior overseas bachelor's degree to qualify for a 1-year PSWV. Alternatively, if your Graduate Diploma aligns directly with a Green List Occupation Shortage, it acts as a structured bridge straight to residency.
  • Higher Employability & Salary Premium: Employment data shows that adults with post-graduate qualifications boast an 83.3% employment rate and earn a 34% income premium over high school leavers (compared to a 24% premium for bachelor’s degrees alone).

The Financial Hurdles: The Limited Budget Reality

If you are running on a tight budget, New Zealand's immigration policy requires proof of liquidity before you even arrive:

  • High Upfront Show Money: To secure your Fee-Paying Student Visa, you must prove you have NZD $20,000 per year available purely for living costs, alongside proof that you have paid your first year's international tuition fees.
  • Tuition Cost Ranges: International postgraduate tuition generally ranges between NZD $26,000 and $37,000 per year , depending on whether you choose a humanities, IT, or engineering discipline.
  • Cost of Living Stress: Living costs across major campus regions require tight budgeting. Weekly rent in shared housing starts around $140+, basic groceries run $80–$120, and utility/transport costs can add strain.

Strategic Balancing: Minimizing Costs While Studying

If you decide to proceed, you must use local work rights and geographic placement strategically to survive on a budget:

Feature Rules & Details Cost Mitigation Potential
Part-Time Work Rights Up to 20 hours per week during term time; full-time during official breaks. Can cover weekly groceries, transport, and utilities, but cannot reliably cover full tuition fees.
Regional Study Strategy Choosing universities or polytechnics outside of Auckland (e.g., Canterbury or Waikato). Living costs and rent drop by 20% to 40%. Regional employment also grants an extra point toward the Skilled Migrant Category residency pathway.
PhDs as a Wildcard International PhD students pay the same low tuition rates as domestic students (approx. NZD $6,500–$9,000/year) and get unlimited work hours. The most budget-friendly study option if you have a strong research background.

The Verdict: When is it worth it?

It is worth it ONLY if your field of study is on the Green List.
If your career aligns with New Zealand’s high-demand skill shortage sectors—such as ICT/Software Engineering, Construction, Healthcare, Engineering, or Teaching —the investment is highly likely to pay off. You will easily transition from your 3-year post-study visa into a fast-tracked Straight to Residence or Work to Residence pathway.

If your degree is in a highly general or saturated field, a limited budget makes this a risky gamble. In a tightening job market, general graduates face steep competition, making it harder to recoup your initial study costs quickly.

To help narrow down the best path, could you share:

  • Your undergraduate major or current field of work?
  • Your estimated maximum budget for tuition?
  • Whether you prefer major metropolitan areas or are open to regional locations?
Ask anything

Captured 15–20 October 2026