The volume of New Zealand nationals crossing the Tasman has increased by almost 5,000 in the last year, overtaking the UK as the largest source of permanent migrants to Australia.
The Department of Immigration released statistics showing that in 2006-07 the amount of New Zealanders who migrated to Australia was 23,906 an increase from the previous year in which 19,033 migrated. The amount of UK migrants was as usual at 23,223 in 2006-07, having been ahead of New Zealand for the last three years.
The amount of New Zealanders who migrate to Australia annually has roughly doubled in the last four years with only 12,366 New Zealanders migrating to Australia in 2002-03. The greatest period of migration happened in 2000-01 when 26,106 Kiwis came to Australia, prior to a significant decrease the next two years after the 11 September 2001 attacks. A recent study of more than 300 New Zealand migrants this year outlined the main reasons for moving to Australia was better economic benefits, wanting a change, a sense of adventure and a better climate.
The study found that New Zealanders were in general very satisfied with their new lives in Australia. However they still maintained strong ties and loyalty towards New Zealand. They consider New Zealand culture to be distinct from Australian culture and often still feel that New Zealand is better.
The Australian federal Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Kevin Andrews said that New Zealand and the UK made up 33.6 percent of all arrivals in the last year. The report outlined the next largest countries from which people migrated were India with 13,496 settlers, China with 12,009 and the Philippines with 5,561.
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