Migration added 12,434 people to New Zealand's population in the 12 months to September this year, according to the latest Statistics NZ estimates.
There were an estimated 138,871 long term arrivals in the year to September, offset by 126,437 long term departures, giving a net gain of 12,434 for the year.
That was down from a net gain of 42,436 in the 12 months to September last year, and a net gain of 132,723 in the 12 months to September 2023 and was the lowest net gain for a September year since 2013.
The number of New Zealand citizens leaving the country long term continues to have a significant impact on the net migration gain.
In the 12 months to September, Statistics NZ estimates 72,684 NZ citizens left the country long term, while 26,316 arrived back in the country after an extended stay overseas, giving a net loss of 46,368 NZ citizens for the year to September.
The number of NZ citizens leaving the country long term has been rising steadily since 2022 when there was a net loss of 19,703.
The 46,368 NZ citizen departures in the year to September 2025 was offset by the 112,555 citizens of other countries who arrived in New Zealand long term in the year to September, while 53,753 departed long term, giving a net gain of 58,802 non-NZ citizens for the year.
The biggest source country for migrant arrivals in the year to September was China which provided 18,550 in the year to September, plus another 662 from Hong Kong.
That just pipped India with 18,256 arrivals for the year, followed by the Philippines 10,574, Sri Lanka 6005, Australia 4734, UK 4551 and USA 3723.
8 Comments
Honey - I shrunk the economy - migrants arrive and leave for jobs. Jobs and opportunity are still being destroyed at an alarming rate. You can't eat beautiful scenery.
I would say 50% of those I know between 18 and 30 have, or are, considered emigrating. Speaking with a neighbor who has 3 children, 2 are medical consultants who are married to doctors as well and all have emigrated.
I travel a lot, and NZ is deteriorating at a rate that is quite scary. Our ambitious, our talent and our self-starters have left in droves. I feel their absence, it's palpable. We have failed to keep pace with a changing world, followed ideology that we could not afford.
Our best strategy now is to become an Australian State, we no longer have the talent to lead us.
So population growth might just scrape over 1% after accounting for new births?!!!
We now see a complete loss of situational awareness in the cockpit, with Captain Luxton and co-pilot Seymour lost in the storm and unable to read or trust their instruments. Expect the plane to stall, then we're into the death spiral.
There is no population growth. TFR is 25% below replacement rate. All we can rely on is increasing longevity.
Whatever happened to Captains Call Cindy? Shelled out $120 billion of yet to be born taxpayers money, then bailed from the back of the plane for greener pastures.
In the twelve months to Sept 2025, Aussie recorded 468,390 net permanent and long-term arrivals - the highest 12-month total to September on record, exceeding the 2024 record by 4%.
September 2025 alone saw 35,890 net permanent and long-term arrivals, the second highest September monthly net figure on record after September 2023. These elevated arrival numbers reflect a continued sharp migration rebound post-pandemic, and confirm that high net migration is now an entrenched trend for Australia.
https://ipa.org.au/latest-news/record-breaking-migrant-arrivals-the-new…
It's scary how the fortunes between us have diverged. Look at their employment numbers today....
With such high migration, must be strong downward pressure on wage growth.
And apparently interest rates won't be going any lower.
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