More Kiwis heading to Oz

The rush across the ditch is speeding up, with latest figures showing a sharp increase in the number of people leaving New Zealand.

Permanent and long-term departures shot up 18.3 percent over the past year.

ASB Economist Jane Turner said departures to Australia in particular have been lifting strongly, which she believes may be down to the Australian economy faring relatively well throughout the recession and labour demand recovering early.

Ms Turner said more people were also departing to the UK, perhaps reflecting pent-up demand. Many young New Zealanders deferred the traditional OE during the heights of the global recession.

- Newstalk ZB