Kiwis are leaving New Zealand at record highs - but net migration is still up.

For June this year net migration rose to 86,000, the largest it has been in three years.

The increase is down to a gain of 121,600 non-New Zealand citizens which was offset by a loss of 34,800 New Zealand citizens.

Massey University Sociologist and Immigration specialist Paul Spoonley joined Mike Hosking to discuss.

LISTEN ABOVE