Migration continues to fall

In the March 2018 year, annual net migration was 68,000, which was made up of 130,800 migrant arrivals and 62,900 migrant departures. “More non-New Zealand citizens are leaving,” population insights senior manager Brooke Theyers said. “But there are just as many migrants arriving as a year ago.” There were 29,700 departures of non-New Zealand citizen migrants in the March 2018 year, up 2 per cent from the February 2018 year and up 14 per cent from the July 2017 year. Visitor numbers still flying high A new high count of 3.82 million visitors arrived in New Zealand in the March 2018 year, Stats NZ said today. This was an increase of 276,200 (8 per cent) from the March 2017 year. “Two-thirds of this rise was due to more visitors from Australia, China, the United Kingdom, and the United States,” population insights senior manager Brooke Theyers said. “Over half of all overseas visitors were holidaymakers, and over one-quarter were visiting friends and family.” March 2018 broke the record for the number of overseas visitors for a March month – overseas visitor arrivals numbered 388,300, up 44,500 from March 2017. The top source of visitor arrivals in March 2018 was Australia, at 37 per cent of all visitor arrivals. This shows a similar pattern to the total number of arrivals to New Zealand across the months. Of those visiting from Australia, 42 per cent were visiting friends/relatives and 39 per cent were holidaying.