The number of people leaving New Zealanders permanently for Australia in April was the highest for that month in three years.
However, the numbers going across the Tasman were lower in April than they were in March.
The numbers permanently leaving for Australia in March totalled 3800.
Statistics New Zealand says that was the highest for the month of March since 1981.
The loss eased to 3200 in April, still the highest for that month in three years.
In the year to the end of April, 27,000 New Zealanders left permanently for Australia, up from 14,800 the previous year. In the year to April 2009, some 32,000 people made the move.
