Arrivals were up 16pc but departure lounge full too

The number of people arriving in and leaving the country soared last year, statistics show.

The 4.17 million arrivals were up 16 per cent on the year before and the 4.16 million departures were up 18 per cent, Statistics NZ said.

Overseas visitor arrivals last year totalled 2.35 million, up 11 per cent on the previous year.

Australia accounted for 855,900, or 37 per cent, of the overseas visitors, followed by Britain with 283,700, and Japan with 165,000.

"More than half [1.19 million] the short-term visitors came for a holiday," Statistics NZ said.

"Another 660,000 visited friends and relatives, 248,800 came on business, 53,700 attended a conference and 49,200 came for education/medical reasons."

Overseas visitors stayed for an average of 20 days, against 22 days in 2003. On a monthly basis, visitors arriving in January stayed the longest, 24 days, and those in August the shortest, 16 days.

Brief overseas jaunts by New Zealand residents exceeded 1.73 million, up 26 per cent on the year before. Australia was the most popular destination, followed by Fiji, the United States and Britain.

About 40 per cent, or 756,200, of those went on holiday, 509,700 were visiting friends or relatives, 252,400 were on business, 57,200 attended a conference, and 25,600 left for education/medical reasons.

During the year there was a net inflow of 15,100 permanent and long-term migrants, compared with 34,900 the year before, Statistics NZ said..

"There was a net outflow of 18,100 New Zealand citizens, but a net gain of 33,200 non-New Zealand citizens."

- NZPA