Fiji has lost some of its appeal to New Zealanders and people are choosing to holiday on the shores of our neighbours.

Droves of New Zealanders escape the wind and rain for a few weeks of snatched sunshine on the shores of our Pacific neighbours.

Fiji has always been a popular choice with New Zealanders.

Statistics New Zealand departure figures show the number of Kiwis visiting Fiji dramatically dropped in 2000.

The numbers started to climb in 2001 and kept rising until 2006, but fell further in 2007.

Meanwhile, the number of New Zealanders travelling to Samoa and the Cook Islands is steadily rising.

The official Fiji Islands Visitors Bureau's statistics echo this trend. In 2005, more than 117,000 New Zealanders visited, dropping to about 106,000 in 2006 and 100,000 in 2007.

But a report in the Timaru Herald says Australians can't get enough of Fiji.

They are packing their bikinis and mosquito repellent along with the pram, as they take their young families on holiday.

In 2005 more than 184,000 Australians visited Fiji, rising to more than 197,000 in 2006 and 198,000 in 2007.

Between them, New Zealand and Australia make up 55 per cent of Fiji's worldwide tourist market.

Radio Tarana