Wellington  - A record 35,304 New Zealand citizens migrated to Australia as the economic recession began to bite in their homeland last year, according to official figures released on Wednesday.

This was up from 28,557 the previous year. The figures released by Statistics New Zealand showed the number leaving the country every year for a new start in neighbouring Australia has more than doubled since 2004.

Four out of every 10 migrants were aged 15 to 29, with children under 14 and the 30-44 age group each accounting for 23 per cent of the outflow.

The figures showed that 8,200 New Zealand citizens returned home from long-term stays in Australia while 4,900 Australians moved residence across the Tasman Sea to New Zealand.

Despite the exodus to Australia, New Zealand gained an overall net balance of 3,800 new emigrants last year. This was down from 5,500 in 2007 and was the lowest figure since 2000, Statistics New Zealand said.

Britain was the biggest source of immigrants, providing 7,800 new settlers, followed by India (5,200), the Philippines (3,700), South Africa and Fiji (each 2,800) and China (2,600). (dpa)