New Zealand is experiencing a brain drain, with large numbers of people moving to Australia where average wages are about 46% higher and offer a better quality of life. In the 12 months to April, 111,900 people left New Zealand, following a record high of 120,400 the previous year. The main destination remains Australia, where over 47,500 New Zealanders crossed the Tasman Sea in the year to December, close to the previous year's level which was the highest since 2013. Australia's average annual income is 106,700 Australian dollars, or about 127,580 New Zealand dollars, 46% higher than in New Zealand. The New Zealand dollar has also weakened nearly 9% against the Australian dollar over the past 12 months, further widening the income gap. Analysts warn that if this trend continues, it will worsen labour shortages in healthcare, construction, technology, and emergency services, and weigh on economic growth in New Zealand, which has a population of just 5.3 million.