Kaye Thorn
Doctor of Philosophy, (Management)
Study Completed: 2009
Massey Business School
Citation
Thesis Title
Flight of the Kiwi: An exploration of motives and behaviours of self-initiated mobility
Read article at Massey Research Online: 
Ms Thorn''sresearch focused on self-initiated mobility across national boundaries. Her survey of over 2,600 New Zealanders living and working abroad found that cultural and travel opportunities and career are the most important motives influencing a decision to leave New Zealand. Central to these motives are opportunities for travel and adventure and career development. Economic motives are considerably less important. Ms Thorn found that the priority accorded to the motives varies depending on gender, location and life stage. Furthermore, her research showed that motives related to cultural and travel opportunities and quality of life are key predictors of various mobility behaviours while those related to economics and the political environment are not significant predictors of any behaviour. Ms Thorn’s findings have implications for policy makers addressing the issue of the retention and return of highly educated people to New Zealand.
Supervisors
Dr Ralph Bathurst
Professor Stuart Carr
Dr Keith Macky