Quarterly Migration Update at a glance

Published: 22 Ferbruary 2008

Description

This report examines trends in permanent and long-term (PLT) migration using data collected by Statistics New Zealand from arrival and departure cards. These data cover migrants intending to stay or leave for a year or more. This analysis is supported by administrative data on immigration approvals from the Department of Labour.

Link to full report

Quarterly Migration Update HTML | PDF [115 KB, 6 pages]

Summary

There was a net migration inflow of 5,500 in the year to December 2007, down from 14,600 a year earlier.

Net migration is characterised by a large inflow of non-New Zealanders, which offsets a net outflow of New Zealand citizens.

Annual net migration gains have been falling for over a year, from a peak of 14,800 in November 2006.

The fall in net migration was mainly driven by more departures of New Zealand citizens, notably to Australia, as well as fewer New Zealand citizens returning from overseas. This was partially offset by a small increase in arrivals of non-New Zealanders over the same period.

Figure 1: PLT total arrivals, departures, and net migration, 1987-2007

Source: External Migration, Statistics New Zealand

Data table for Figure 1.

Departures of New Zealand citizens to Australia have risen in the last year, and are up nearly 70% over the last four years.

We expect that net migration will continue to decline in the short-term as the underlying factors driving departures are unlikely to change.

A special topic on the labour market outcomes of recent migrants to New Zealand is included in this Quarterly Migration Update.

Related information

External Migration data from Statistics New Zealand [external link]

Immigration New Zealand homepage [external link]

Immigration New Zealand research homepage [external link]

Future updates

This is a regular report – the next update is due in June 2008.  Reports from previous periods can be found in archive

Author or contact details

For further information please contact the Labour Market Analysis team