Fewer New Zealand citizens are leaving long-term and more are returning after an extended absence

Migration added an estimated 6746 people to New Zealand's population in February, which is 42% higher than in February last year.

The increase was mainly due to a drop in the number of people leaving NZ long-term, compared to 12 months earlier.

The latest migration estimates from Statistics NZ are that 14,140 people arrived in NZ long-term in February, up just 1.3% compared to February last year. Meanwhile 7394 people departed these shores long-term in February, down 19.8% compared to February last year.

That gave a net gain of 6746 people for the month.

In the 12 months to February this year there was an estimated net gain of 25,173 people, up 42% compared to the 12 months to February last year.

On average, NZ's population increased by 484 people a week due to migration over the 12 months to February this year.

The long-term departure of NZ citizens continues to have a major impact on net migration, although their numbers are declining.

Statistics NZ estimates 62,717 NZ citizens departed long-term in the 12 months to February this year, 4579 fewer (-6.8%) than in the 12 months to February last year.

Over the same period, an estimated 26,279 NZ citizens arrived back in NZ after an extended stay overseas, up 2411 (10.1%) compared to the 12 months to February 2025.

That gave a net loss of 36,438 NZ citizens for the 12 months to February this year, down from a net loss of 43,429 (-16.1%) in the 12 months to February last year.

Over the same period, there was an estimated  net gain of 61,612 non-NZ citizens, up 0.7% compared to the 12 months to February 2025.

So the although the so-called brain drain of NZ citizens out of the country remains a major feature of migration patterns, those numbers are declining, while migration of foreign citizens to NZ is relatively stable.