New zealand arrivals hit record high

Photo: Happy Relm

New Zealand arrivals reached a record high this summer, with more than 100,000 migrant arrivals recorded across 12 months for the first time ever.

New Zealand has always been ranked among the best countries in the world quality of life, attracting expats from around the world, particularly skiller workers looking for employment opportunities.

Now, visitor arrivals have reached a record high. Tourism continues to perform strongly, with visitor arrivals to New Zealand totalling 162,100 in June 2014, surpassing the previous June high of 159,500 in 2013, according to Statistics New Zealand.

Expats, though, are also on the up. In the June 2014 year, permanent and long-term migrant arrivals numbered 100,800 (up 14 percent from 2013), the first time more than 100,000 arrivals have been recorded in a year. Migrant departures numbered 62,400 (down 22 percent). This resulted in a net gain of 38,300 migrants, the highest annual gain since the October 2003 year (39,300).

In the latest year, New Zealand had a net loss of 8,300 migrants to Australia, well down from 31,200 a year earlier. Net gains were recorded from most other countries, led by India (7,000), China (6,300), and the United Kingdom (5,500).

In June 2014, New Zealand had a seasonally adjusted net gain (more arrivals than departures) of 4,300 migrants, the second-highest monthly gain of migrants. The highest gain ever recorded was in February 2003 (4,700).

Net migration has been positive and mostly increasing since September 2012. The difference in the net gains recorded in September 2012 and June 2014 was mainly due to fewer New Zealand citizens leaving for Australia, more non-New Zealand citizens arriving and more New Zealand citizens arriving from Australia.