Some 27 percent of New Zealand's teenage population could be dreaming of how to leave the country eventually, according to a survey released by the Ministry of Education Wednesday.

The Civic and Citizenship Education Study talked to 4,000 Year 9 students as their respondents in 2008. The teens, mostly 13 years old at the time, were asked about their views on New Zealand, democracy and freedom, and plans of staying.

While most of the students expressed pride in their country, over a quarter of the respondents specifically said they wanted to live permanently in another country.

Secondary Principals' Association president Patrick Walsh said he was surprised at the results, and told the New Zealand Herald that perhaps media talks and reports on the economy of the country have sparked such choices among the teens.

"I think [a] lot of our teenagers... are becoming pessimistic themselves and believe there are greater opportunities for them overseas... I don't think that's the reality but ... if people, including politicians, teachers and parents, continue to talk negatively about their country, that message is caught by young people," Mr. Walsh told the NZ Herald.

Labour leader Phil Goff said it was "a real tragedy our young people feel like they don't have a future here."

"More than 100,000 Kiwis have fled to Australia under John Key's watch. We're losing our best and brightest," Mr. Goff said.

A spokesman for Prime Minister John Key told the Herald that the findings could mean the teens were only looking forward to enjoying an overseas experience.

"A big part of young New Zealanders' lives is doing the traditional OE, and that's great, because going overseas means people can learn new skills and have new experiences... It's something the Prime Minister did ... We want those New Zealanders to bring their skills home, too."

The Herald reports that updated statistics show 84,028 people permanently left New Zealand in the first nine months of this year, up from 68,498 at the same time last year and 70,166 in 2009.