Aussie migration flow slows in Feb

Migration rates to Australia are slowing, according to new stats

The flow of New Zealanders crossing the Tasman to live in Australia eased last month, after reaching record levels earlier in summer.

Statistics New Zealand today said that a net 34,400 people left for Australia on a permanent or long-term (PLT) basis in the year to February.

That was down from record net outflows of 35,400 in both the December and January years, although above the 29,600 net outflow in the February 2008 year, SNZ said.

The net figure for the February 2009 year was made up of 47,500 departures to Australia, and 13,100 arrivals from Australia.

Almost two-thirds of the arrivals from Australia were New Zealand citizens.

For just the month of February PLT arrivals exceeded departures by 3600 overall, up from a net inflow of 2000 in February 2008.

The increase was mainly due to 1200 fewer PLT departures, including 1000 fewer departures to Australia, SNZ said.

Seasonally adjusted, PLT arrivals exceeded departures by 1700 last month, the highest since November 2006 and well up from 700 in January and 300 in December.

Overall for the year to February, there were 88,600 PLT arrivals, up 5300 or 6 per cent from the February 2008 year. During the same time there were 82,400 PLT departures, up 3800 or 5 per cent.

As a result, net PLT migration was 6200 in the February 2009 year, up from 4600 in February 2008 year.

It was the first time since the May 2007 year that net PLT migration had been higher than in the previous year, SNZ said.

Despite that, the net PLT gain of 6200 was below the annual average of 11,400 recorded for the December years from 1990 to 2008.

- NZPA