New Zealanders Moving To Australia At 19 Year High

New Zealanders moving to Australia at 19-year high

www.chinaview.cn []
2007-12-19 16:34:22

WELLINGTON, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) — The number of New Zealanders moving to Australia in the year to November jumped to the highest in 19 years as higher wages lured people across the Tasman, Statistics New Zealand said on Wednesday.

The outflow of kiwis to Australia rose 33 percent in the 12 months ending November to 27,200, the highest level for a November year since 1988, when it recorded 32,700, the Statistics New Zealand said in a report.

The figures came less than a week after the government confirmed in a separate report that the wage gap between New Zealand and Australia had widened and that the equivalent of nearly 10 percent of New Zealand's population were now living in Australia.

Australia was also the most popular destination for New Zealanders who chose to take overseas holidays.

According to Statistics New Zealand, the number of trips to Australia in the month of November rose 7 percent, or 5,500, helping boost total short-term trips offshore by 8 percent to a 3-year high of 159,500.

The United States was the second most popular destination, up 21 percent from November 2006, and the Cook Islands recorded the third largest gain.

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Editor:
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