The 'making friends' thing might have to do with the fact that the people who are classed as 'Kiwis' in this article just don't see the need to make friends that much any more. If you have lived somewhere for a long time, and know a lot of people, and have lots of good friends, it is not that you need to fill an empty space. They haven't just waited for 'us' to arrive, I guess...
If I look back I think it might have been similar for me- I had 'my' friends and although meeting new people is always interesting, there isn't that urge to befriend someone.
Does that make sense..., just my interpretation.