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Record number of Kiwis move to Australia in last year

Record number of Kiwis move to Australia in last year

More New Zealanders moved permanently to Australia in the year to September 2008 than in any other twelve month period. In the year to September, 47,166 Kiwis made permanent moves to Australia, an average of 129 per day. A net 33,929 New Zealanders moved to Australian in the year to September, which surpassed the previous record number leaving in any one year, which was 33,703 in the year to January 1989. The latest figures come during a heated election campaign largely focused on the future of the New Zealand economy and the attractions for New Zealanders of higher wages and lower taxes (for many) in Australia. In the nine years since November 1999, a gross 306,452 Kiwis moved to Australia, more than the populations of Otago and Southland put together. Net migration to Australia in the last nine years was 189,801. Migration statistics also show that in the year to September 2008, total permanent and long-term net migration to New Zealand was 4,403 in favour of those entering the country. Net overall migration in the month of September of 1,706 was the lowest September in 8 years. In the year to September, permanent and long-term net migration to New Zealand from Asia was 16,167; 11,262 from Europe; 1,698 from the Americas; and 4,822 from 'other' countries including 2,714 from South Africa. All figures represent positive net migration to New Zealand. Country by country, the UK remains New Zealand's largest source of net migration with 7,552 in the year to September. India is second with 5,002. The big surprise is the rise of the Philippines to third with a net figure of 3,661 moving to New Zealand. Fiji if fourth with 2,727 and South Africa if fifth. The United Kingdom remains the second highest destination after Australia for long term New Zealand departures with 10,986 Kiwis moving there in the year to September 2008. This is down from 12,248 in the year ended September 2007.

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