The Government says a new plan to lure migrants away from Auckland will boost regional economies, but admits it will do little to ease Auckland's housing pressures.

Migrant arrivals climbed 15 percent to 115,700 in the year, while departures fell 8.1 percent to 57,400.

The average price for 2 litres of blue-top milk was $3.36 in June, down 9.4 per cent from its peak in November 2014.

The boost was fuelled by a rebound in both domestic and international travellers and a lift in South Island and hotel park stays.

The economy has started to slow, with confidence declining as dairy prices remain lower for longer.

An analysis released by Statistics New Zealand found tens of thousands of Kiwis don't go home to a traditional house.

NZ has had a net gain of 57,800 migrants in the year through May - the 10th consecutive record-breaking month.

Gross domestic product grew just 0.2 per cent in the first three months of the year, according to Statistics New Zealand.

Kiwis spent more on their electronic cards in May, as increased retailing of consumables offset a flat month.

New Zealanders are accepting of diversity, sexuality and religion but not of mental illness.

New Zealand’s Maori, Pacific and Asian populations are on the rise, new projections from Statistics New Zealand reveal.

Migration rose to a new annual record in April, as more students arrived from India and China and fewer locals left.

Producer input and output prices fell in the first quarter, reflecting lower fuel costs and weakness in prices of meat and dairy products.

More Kiwis have formal qualifications, according to new census figures released today.

Statistics New Zealand figures out today show national guest nights have risen every month for the past year.

Core retail spending (excluding fuel and vehicle-related spending) fell 0.8 per cent in April, the first time since last June.

Data released by Statistics New Zealand today showed the life expectancy for children has increased by one year for females and 1.5 years for males in the past eight years.

The country had a net gain of 56,275 migrants in the year through March, 75 per cent higher than the 31,914 gain in the year earlier period.

Inflation is down again, with falling petrol prices pushing the consumers price index down 0.3 per cent in the March quarter.

Latest stats show New Zealand consumers are starting to spend up in the shops, with electronic card spending up 3.7 per cent last month.

New Zealanders increased spending on debit and credit cards in February, led by gains in hospitality and apparel as low inflation

A big fall in the amount of beer available has lead to a 2 per cent fall in the size of New Zealand's alcohol supply last year.

All regions of New Zealand are expected to see an increase in population over the next 13 years, Statistics New Zealand says.

New Zealand, with a population increase of 500,000 in the past decade, is growing faster than Australia and China a new "snapshot" into Kiwi life shows.