External Migration Factsheet – May 2008

External Migration data for May 2008 were released by Statistics New Zealand on 20 June 2008.  Unless otherwise stated, all data refer to permanent & long-term (PLT, i.e. 12 months or more) migration, are not seasonally adjusted, and are rounded to the nearest 100.

Key points

• The net migration inflow for the year to May 2008 was 4,900, up from 4,700 in the April 2008 year.  This month’s result is the highest annual net migration figure for four months.
• Compared to the year to May 2007, there was a decrease in annual net migration from 10,700 to 4,900.  Following the trend of previous months, this was largely due to more departures of New Zealanders (up 6,700) - notably to Australia (up 6,700), and less arrivals of New Zealanders (down 400).
• Annual arrivals were 84,800 in May 2008 compared to 82,400 in May 2007, while annual departures were 79,900 up from 71,700 in the year to May 2007. 
• The increase in total departures over the past year was mainly driven by a rise in departures of New Zealanders to Australia to 40,000 in the year to May 2008, up 20% from 33,300 in the year to May 2007.  This resulted in a net outflow of 31,500 New Zealanders to Australia in the year to May 2008, up from 25,000 a year ago.
• The seasonally adjusted net migration inflow for the May 2008 month was 1,010.  This is an increase from 420 recorded for the May 2007 month.
• Net migration inflows are expected to remain low in the coming year as the underlying factors driving increased departures to Australia are likely to remain.  However, this will be offset somewhat by arrivals of Non-New Zealanders, especially from Asia, which have risen strongly recently. 

Source: External Migration, Statistics New Zealand.  Note: figures may not sum due to rounding.