Mark Smith: ASB Senior Economist on the number of NZ Citizens leaving New Zealand

Early Edition on Newstalk ZB

There's an expectation New Zealanders will continue to file out of the country in high numbers.

The latest figures from Stats NZ show more than 130,000 people left the country in the year to April, the highest number on record.

Among those were a record 81,200 NZ citizens.

ASB Senior Economist Mark Smith told Mike Hosking that we are moving in the right direction, but there’s still a way to go yet.

He said it’s reflective of what’s happening offshore as well, as Australia’s unemployment rate is lower than ours, as well as higher wages and lower living costs being on offer.

He said it’s pretty clear from a New Zealander’s point of view that it’s probably better across the ditch.

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