More Kiwis are starting new lives overseas despite migrants arriving in droves.

In the year to June, annual net migration rose to more than 86,000.

But, the loss was nearly 35,000 citizens - the largest in a decade.

ANZ Chief Economist Sharon Zollner told Kate Hawkesby we're losing New Zealanders to Australia because it's seen as a low-risk  option.

She says changes to the citizenship and wage levels reassure people to make the move.

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