23 Sep 2012

Net migration to Australia at record high

12:14 pm on 23 September 2012

The gap between the number of people moving to Australia and those relocating here from across the Tasman is at a record high.

Statistics New Zealand migration figures show a net 40,000 people moved to Australia in the year to August.

It says 53,900 people moved to Australia in the year to August while 14,000 moved to New Zealand from Australia. The difference between those numbers, of some 40,000 people, is the highest ever recorded.

Most people moving, in either direction, are New Zealand citizens.

New Zealand did, however, have a net gain of 5400 migrants the United Kingdom and gains from China (5,200) and India (5,100).

The number of people visiting New Zealand was up 5% in the year to August, to 2.6 million people largely because of the Rugby World Cup.