World

NZ a 'transit lounge' for immigrants to Australia

by Criticom | July 21, 2008 at 02:51 pm

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The number of New Zealanders moving to Australia has hit a 10 year high.

In the past 12 months, 35,000 kiwis called it quits in the land of the long white cloud, 32,000 of them, came here.

But it's the exodus of the New Zealand citizens who weren't born in the country, which has the government most worried.

One New Zealand minister even says New Zealand is becoming a "giant transit lounge", for immigrants on their way to Australia.

New Zealanders can live and work in Australia very easily; most don't even have to apply for a visa.

It's long been suspected that many immigrants become citizens in New Zealand, so they can then move to Australia.

New Zealand's Revenue Minister Peter Dunne, who is also leader of the United Future political party, says in recent years the situation has become serious.