NZ migration gain narrows

The number of new migrants or New Zealanders returning home in the year to August fell compared with the previous year, says Statistics New Zealand.

For the year ended August, there were 78,900 permanent long-term arrivals, down 3600, or 4 per cent, on the previous August year.

Permanent and long-term departures rose 9100, or 14 per cent, to 72,300.

This led to a net migration gain of 6600, 66 per cent lower than the 19,300 people in the previous August year.

Permanent and long-term arrivals include people who intend staying for at least 12 months.

Permanent and long-term departures include New Zealanders who will be away for at least 12 months, as well as permanent residents and foreign visitors who have been in the country for more than a year.

For the August year, foreign arrivals were down 2300 and foreign departures increased 2200.

There were 1300 fewer New Zealand citizens arriving back permanently compared with the year-earlier and 6900 more New Zealand citizens leaving on a long-term basis.

Australia remains the destination of choice for New Zealanders. There was a net outflow to Australia in August, with 1600 more New Zealanders moving across the Tasman than returning home.

By contrast, there was a net inflow from Britain for August, with 900 more long-term arrivals than people leaving.

Short-term visitor arrivals fell 1 per cent in the month compared with August last year.

There were 150,700 short-term overseas visitor arrivals in New Zealand in August, 1400 fewer compared with the same time last year.

But the visitors who did come stayed slightly longer. The average length of stay was 17 days in August compared with 16 days the same time last year.

In the year to August there were 2.4 million visitor arrivals, up 4 per cent, or 102,700, on the previous year.

Most of the overseas visitors, 51 per cent, were here on holiday, with 28 per cent coming to see friends or family, 11 per cent came on business, 3 per cent were here for a conference and 2 per cent arrived for educational or medical reasons.

In August there were 1000, or 17 per cent, more visitors from China; 700, or 10 per cent, more visitors from Korea; and 400, or 48 per cent, more South Africans compared with the month last year.

But there were fewer visitors from Japan, down 12 per cent to 1700, and the United States, down 1100, or 8 per cent.

New Zealand residents left on 171,700 short-term trips in August, up 6 per cent.

There were 5400, or 6 per cent, more New Zealanders visiting Australia.

The Cook Islands attracted 43 per cent, or 1600, more New Zealanders during the month.

The United States was a less popular destination, with 800, or 9 per cent, fewer New Zealanders venturing to American soil.

The average length of New Zealanders' overseas trips in August was 18 days - unchanged from the year-earlier period.

- NZPA