Annual net migration eases from recent peak

In the year ended January 2018, 70,100 more migrants arrived in New Zealand than left, Stats NZ said today. Migrant arrivals were 132,000 and migrant departures were 61,900.

Annual net migration in the January 2018 year was down 1,200 from the January 2017 year. Annual net migration had reached a record high of 72,400 in the July 2017 year, but has slowed slightly since then.

In the January 2018 year, 24,900 migrants arrived from Australia and a similar number departed for Australia.

“Over half of migrants arriving from Australia are actually returning Kiwis who have been living across the Tasman for more than a year,” population insights senior manager Peter Dolan said.

“The number of migrants going back and forth to Australia in the past year almost balanced each other out – the net gain was just 40 people in the last 12 months.”

That means net migration’s contribution to New Zealand’s population growth in the January 2018 year mainly reflected a gain of 70,100 people from other countries around the world.

The largest net migration in the January 2018 year was for migrants arriving from:

• China (net gain of 9,300)
• India (6,700)
• United Kingdom (6,100)
• South Africa (4,900)
• Philippines (4,800)
• France (3,300)
• Germany (3,000).

Student visa arrivals down for India and China

The combined number of migrant arrivals on student visas from India and China, New Zealand’s two largest education markets, fell by 1,000 to 11,100 in the 12 months to January 2018.

Those arriving from India to study, and intending to stay in New Zealand for at least a year, fell 10 percent (down 600) to 5,800. This is 45 percent below a recent peak – 10,600 Indian students in the year ended January 2016.

Migrant arrivals from China on student visas dropped 6 percent (down 350) to 5,300 in the 12 months to January 2018.

The fall in student migrant arrivals from India and China was almost offset by increased numbers from other countries. The overall number of migrants arriving on student visas was 24,100 in the January 2018 year, down just 150 from the January 2017 year.

International migration statistics rely on the information provided on passenger cards at the time of travel. The reported length of intended stay in New Zealand, or time away from New Zealand, determines whether the passenger is a visitor or a migrant.

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