March year migration strong

By Phil Boeyen, ShareChat Business News Editor

Friday 19th April 2002

The pressure of migration on the economy is likely to continue to escalate with numbers reaching a new high for the year ended March.

Statistics New Zealand figures show inward migration of 88,400 people for the 12 months to the end of March, up by 21,900 on the previous March year.

In comparison the number of people leaving New Zealand on a permanent or long-term basis fell by 16,300 to 62,700 during the same period.

The overall result is a net inflow of 25,600 migrants compared with a net outflow of 12,600 migrants in the previous March year.

Figures show that the largest single source of permanent and long-term arrivals was the UK with 17,750 people. China was next with 13,400 followed by Australia at 12,600.

By far the most popular country for permanent or long-term emigration from New Zealand continues to be Australia with 28,700 people leaving New Zealand to live there in the year ended March.

However that number is well down on the previous year's figure of 42,300. The next most popular destination is the United Kingdom.

In the month of March 2002 permanent and long-term arrivals exceeded departures by 1,700, compared with a net outflow of 1,900 in March last year. The change was the result of 2,100 more arrivals and 1,600 fewer departures.

Comments from our readers

No comments yet