More long term arrivals to NZ

New Zealand had a seasonally adjusted net gain of 1400 long-term and permanent migrants in February, Statistics New Zealand said today.

The net migration gain compared with a net gain of 600 in January.

On an actual unadjusted basis, arrivals exceeded departures by 3100, from 1800 a year earlier, the government agency said, with 800 more permanent and long-term arrivals and 600 fewer departures.

For the year ended February, there was a net gain in permanent and long-term migration of 8300, down 26 per cent on the net inflow of 11,100 people in the previous February year.

There were 252,400 short-term visitor arrivals in February, up 2400, or 1 per cent, on February last year.

More visitors came from the United States and Britain, and less from Hong Kong and China compared with last February.

In the year ended February, there were 2.386 million visitor arrivals, up 20,600 or 1 per cent on the previous February year.

New Zealand residents departed on 91,100 short-term overseas trips in February 2006, down 3 per cent, or 2400.

While over the February year, there were 7 per cent or 1.76 million more short-term departures by New Zealand residents, to 1.879 million.

- NZPA