Drop in number of migrants to New Zealand

4.00pm

Almost 12,000 fewer migrants arrived in New Zealand for long-term or permanent stays in the year to February, compared to the previous year, according to Statistics New Zealand figures released today.

Overall, the country gained a net 30,100 people in the 12 months to February compared with 41,600 the year before -- a drop of 28 per cent.

Arrivals included expatriate New Zealanders returning home.

There were overall gains in the numbers arriving from China (a net gain of 8300), India (4500) and Japan (2000) and 10,400 people from the United Kingdom -- up by 51 per cent.

Fewer people left for Australia in the year to February (a net outflow of 10,600) compared to the previous year, when 11,500 left for 12 months or more.

Meanwhile, more than 2.1 million people visited New Zealand short term, up 74,500 or 4 per cent on the previous February year.

Tourism New Zealand chief executive George Hickton said the latest visitor arrival figures showed the summer season from December to February had again been "a boom" time for tourism.

More than 238,000 tourists visited the country last month and of those, Australian visitor numbers were up by 22 per cent compared with February 2003.

Other growth markets included Germany and the United Kingdom, and the Japanese market was back in "positive growth" after 13 months, Mr Hickton said in a statement.

However, the number of Asian visitors in February was down, as were North American visitors, due to fewer cruise ships arriving and a strong New Zealand dollar against the greenback.

- NZPA