WELLINGTON, Aug 13 Reuters People are leaving New Zealand in record numbers as unemployment rises, interest rates remain high and economic growth is anaemic, government statistics show.

Data released by Statistics New Zealand on Tuesday showed that 131,200 people departed New Zealand in the year ended June 2024, provisionally the highest on record for an annual period. Around a third of these were headed to Australia.

While net migration, the number of those arriving minus those leaving, remains at high levels, economists also expect this to wane as the number of foreign nationals wanting to move to New Zealand falls due to the softer economy.

The data showed of those departing 80,174 were citizens, which was almost double the numbers seen leaving prior to the COVID19 pandemic.

Merrily Allen is currently planning her move with her partner and 14yearold daughter in early 2025 to Hobart on the Australian island state of Tasmania

There is a lot of opportunity over there. They39;re always, always looking for people in my profession, said Allen, who works in dental administration.

I39;ve got a lot of friends that have gone to Australia … purely because of better work opportunities, better living. Australia just seems to have it together.

During the pandemic, encouraged by the then government39;s handling of the outbreak, New Zealanders living overseas returned home in historically high numbers.

But the love affair with the country of 5.3 million, is over for some….