Net migration eases

Annual net migration totalled 63,300 in the August 2018 year - the lowest August year since 2015, according to Stats NZ's latest figures.

Annual net migration was down 8,800 in the August 2018 year when compared with the August 2017 year.

Migrant arrivals were 129,100 and migrant departures were 65,800 for the latest year.

“The number of migrant arrivals in August was only slightly lower than in August 2017, so it was the increase in the number of departures that led to the fall in net migration,” said population insights senior manager Brooke Theyers.

“This is consistent with what we’ve seen in previous months, with the fall in net migration being driven more by increases in migrant departures than decreases in migrant arrivals.”

Migrant departures to Australia historically low

Migrant departures for New Zealand citizens were up 600 for the year ended August 2018, to 34,200 - of these, 20,900 were to Australia.

This increase in departures was accompanied by a fall in the number of citizens returning to New Zealand from Australia, which led to a net outflow of 1,200 migrants.

“Historically, New Zealand citizen departures have been much higher. For example, in 2012 there were 48,700 New Zealand citizens who departed to Australia, which led to a net migrant loss of 40,000.”

Both 2016 and 2017 had small positive net migration gains with Australia, due to low numbers of New Zealand citizen departures and record numbers of New Zealand citizens arriving (expats returning home).

Departure cards taking flight

From November 2018, travellers leaving New Zealand will no longer need to complete a passenger departure card. This change means the outcomes-based measure of migration, first released in May 2017, will be fully adopted.