New record: Annual net migration tops 110,000 for the first time in history

More people have been moving to New Zealand since the pandemic-era border closures ended, and the numbers have been reaching record highs. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand’s population has surged, with a record gain of 110,000 migrants in the year to August 31, Stats NZ said today.

“Annual migrant arrivals reached an all-time high of 225,400 in the August 2023 year,” Stats NZ population indicators manager Tehseen Islam said.

Migration across the border surged in both directions.

“The 115,100 migrant departures were just below the annual record of 117,400 in the February 2012 year,” Islam said.

Net migration is the difference between migrant arrivals and migrant departures.

There was a net migration loss of 42,600 New Zealand citizens in the latest data, approaching the record loss of 44,400 in the February 2012 year.

Stats NZ’s latest figures (for the year to March) indicate about 53 per cent of those Kiwis headed to Australia.

Citizens of India, the Philippines, China, Fiji, and South Africa drove the net migration gains.

This is the first year in New Zealand’s history that net migration gains have exceeded 100,000 — revised estimates show annual net migration went through that mark in the July year.

In less than a year and half (since autumn 2022), net migration gains of non-New Zealand citizens have amounted to 167,500 people — more than the population of Hamilton.

That net migration gain compared with a net migration loss of 32,300 non-New Zealand citizens in the 24 months from April 2020 to March 2022, when Covid-related border and travel restrictions were in place.

After a huge surge in arrivals in months after the borders opened, the net migration rate has hit a new annual high every month this year and probably will continue to for several months yet.

In February and March, monthly net migration gains were in excess of 13,000 and 14,000 respectively.

On a monthly basis, the numbers have settled back to more-moderate levels but estimates for August 2023 still show a net migration gain of 9500, up from 8161 in July.

Latest Australian migration figures (to March 2023)

Stats NZ released new data specific to transtasman migration. It indicated a provisional net migration loss of 17,600 people to Australia in the year ended March 2023.

This was made up of 20,800 migrant arrivals from Australia to New Zealand, and 38,400 migrant departures from New Zealand to Australia.

Traditionally, there has been a net migration loss from New Zealand to Australia, Stats NZ said. This averaged nearly 30,000 a year during 2004–13, and about 3000 a year during 2014–2019.

The provisional net migration loss in the year ended March 2023 was made up of a net loss of 18,000 New Zealand citizens, which more than offset a small net gain of 400 non-New Zealand citizens.

This compares with a net migration loss to Australia of 5900 in the year ended March 2022, made up of a net loss of 4000 New Zealand citizens and a net loss of 1900 non-New Zealand citizens.