An economist says the number of New Zealanders moving to Australia could pick up again in the coming year.
The global downturn saw the number of New Zealanders moving overseas fall last year.
In particular, the net flow of emigrants from New Zealand to Australia almost halved - from 35,300 in 2008 to 18,500 last year.
Net migration stood at 21,300 for the year to December, the highest in more than five years.
Goldman Sachs JBWere economist Philip Borkin says the Australian economy seems to be outperforming a number of other developed nations so the outflow of New Zealanders might pick up again.
