New Zealand recorded its biggest quarterly increase in migration-driven population growth in two years in the first quarter of this year (Q1).
According to Statistics NZ, there was a net population gain from migration of 12,178 in Q1, up 182% from Q1 last year, and the most in any quarter since Q1 2024.
There were 38,699 people who arrived in NZ long term in Q1 and 26,521 who departed long term, giving the net gain of 12,178.
Of the 38,689 new arrivals, 6192 were NZ citizens returning after an extended stay overseas, and 32,507 were citizens of other countries.
Of the 26,521 long term departures, 15,681 were NZ citizens and 10,840 were citizens of other countries.
That meant an overall net loss of 9489 NZ citizens in Q1 this year, and a net gain of 21,667 citizens of other countries.
The exodus of New Zealand citizens leaving NZ long term continues to decline.
The the net loss was 9489 NZ citizens in Q1 this year, down 5% from Q1 2025, and down by 21% from Q1 2024.
Conversely, the number of citizens of other countries moving to NZ has been rising.
The net gain of 21,667 citizens of other countries in Q1 this year was up 38% compared to Q1 2025, but down 17% compared to Q1 2024.
Of the 38,699 people who arrived in NZ long term in Q1 this year, 10,729 (27.7%) arrived on student visas, 8653 (22.4%) on work visas, 7531 (19.5%) were NZ and Australian citizens, who do not require visas to enter the country, 6952 (18.0%) arrived on visitor visas and 4465 (11.5%) had residence visas.
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Net long term migration
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8 Comments
Depressing.
It mainly depends on who they are. Is it my friends the liberated Iranian couple with post graduate studies and experience in medical imaging or is it the Uber drivers, nail manicurists, liquor outlet managers and checkout operators? We are promised 'skilled' but too often get generally hard-working enthusiastic low-skilled workers who compete with our own unskilled Kiwis.
Having just travelled to the UK via the US there is no shortage of people who would like to live in NZ. Why can't we just take the best?
I don't care who they are. I want a plan for things like infrastructure, where how why etc. I want a plan of how we can cope with the challenges of our current population before we add more with some vague notion that growth is good. Or that billionaires like Peter Theil are our friends and will shower us with their vast coinage.
I don’t care who they are either. I just want an upper limit set.
May explain Luxon's out of the blue immigration speech...preempting the release.
'Don't watch what we are doing, listen to what we say'.
According to Statistics NZ, there was a net population gain from migration of 12,178 in Q1, up 182% from Q1 last year, and the most in any quarter since Q1 2024.
Around 6 months out from the election. Just enough time to engineer the next property boom. Increasing demand for rentals not far away, unfortunately.
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