NZ monthly net migration at 4-year high in June as Australian attraction dwindles

Friday 19th July 2013

New Zealand's monthly inbound migration rose to a four-year high in June as more kiwis stayed at home amid the dwindling attraction of Australia's slowing economy.

Seasonally adjusted, there were 2,300 more migrants arriving in New Zealand than leaving in June, up from 1,740 a month earlier, and the most since May 2009, according to Statistics New Zealand. Permanent long-term arrivals soared to a decade-high 8,330, while departures were at a three-year low as fewer people quit New Zealand to seek a better life in Australia.

New Zealand has a more favourable economic outlook than its bigger cousin, as a looming construction boom looks set to boost activity here and the pending peak to Australia's mining sector casts a shadow on one of the few developed economies to avoid a recession during the global financial crisis.

Australia has been a favourite destination for many kiwis seeking better wages and a higher standard of living with almost open access to the larger nation.

In unadjusted terms, there was an inflow of 636 net migrants in June for an annual gain of 7,907. The net loss to Australian was just 1,718 compared to 3,334 in June 2012. The biggest net contributor to New Zealand migration was 430 from India, followed by 275 from China and 201 from the Philippines. On an annual basis, there was a net gain of 6,304 from the UK, 5,224 from China, and 5,120 from India.

Today's figures showed a 1.5 fall in seasonally adjusted short-term arrivals to 226,290 in June from a month earlier. In unadjusted terms, short-term visitors climbed to 159,485 in June from 151,074 in the same month a year earlier, and were largely unchanged at 2.637 million on an annual basis.

BusinessDesk.co.nz

Comments from our readers

No comments yet