Net migration historically high

Migrant arrivals have continued to increase, reaching almost 150,000 in the year ending March 2019, but more people are also leaving the country long term, reports Stats NZ.

“The number of migrant arrivals for the year is actually higher than when net migration peaked at almost 64,000 in the year ending July 2016,” says Tehseen Islam, population insights manager.

“However, departures have continued to rise since mid-2016 bringing net migration to its current level. Net migration remains at historically high levels, but lower than the 2016 peak.”

Annual net migration was provisionally estimated at 55,400 in the year ending March 2019 compared with 50,600 in 2017/18. The top source countries for arrivals were Australia with 26,300 – 15,800 of whom were New Zealand citizens, China with 15,700 and India on 11,800.

Migrant arrivals and departures include the flows of Kiwi citizens as well as non-New Zealanders because both affect the population living in this country. While most arrivals are overseas citizens, about one-in-four were NZ citizens in the year ending March 2019 returning after being away for more than a year.

There were 10,400 more migrant arrivals of non-NZ citizens in the year ending March 2019 compared with the year to March 2018. Arrivals of Kiwi citizens were down 800, resulting in an overall increase of 9,600. There were 4,000 more migrant departures of NZ citizens in 2018/19 compared with the previous year. Departures of non-NZ citizens were up by 800 for an overall rise of 4,800.