Stats NZ has outlined why New Zealand's net migration has dropped over the past 12 months.
New Zealand had a net migration gain of 73,300 in the June 2024 year, down from the peak in late-2023, according to provisional estimates released by Stats NZ.
“On an annual basis we still have net migration gains, but these have been falling from the provisional peak of 136,600 in the October 2023 year,” population indicators manager Tehseen Islam said.
Despite the recent fall, the net migration gain in the June 2024 year is the third largest net gain ever for a June year.
Net migration is the difference between migrant arrivals and migrant departures.
“Arrivals of non-New Zealand citizens are down from their peak in the October 2023 year, while migrant departures of New Zealand citizens and non-New Zealand citizens are both up,” Islam said.
There was a provisional loss of 55,300 New Zealand citizens in the June 2024 year.
Before the current high levels, the record annual net migration loss of New Zealand citizens was 44,400 in the February 2012 year.
The loss of New Zealand citizens in the June 2024 year was made up of 24,900 migrant arrivals and 80,200 migrant departures. For every migrant arrival of a New Zealand citizen there were just over three migrant departures.
Based on the latest estimates available, over half of these migrant departures went to Australia.
There was a provisional net migration gain of 128,500 non-New Zealand citizens in the June 2024 year, driven by citizens of India, the Philippines, China, and Fiji.
“The net gain of non-New Zealand citizens in the June 2024 year was 50,000 lower than the peak of 178,500 in the October 2023 year,” Islam said.
“This net gain of non-New Zealand citizens still drove the overall gain in the June 2024 year, and more than offset the record net loss of New Zealand citizens.”
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