Net population gain of 22,611 from migration in September year, NZ citizens still leaving in droves

Official data suggests migration added 22,611 people to New Zealand's population in the September year.

According to Statistics NZ's latest provisional estimates, 136,109 people arrived in NZ long-term over the 12 months to September,  partially offset by the 113,498 who departed long-term, giving a net gain of 22,611 for the year.

An estimated 64,452 NZ citizens left during the 12 months to September, while 26,658 arrived back after an extended stay overseas.

That gave a net loss of 37,794 NZ citizens for the year.

Although the loss of NZ citizens has been slowly declining over the last two yeas, it remains very high by historical standards.

Ten years ago, in the 12 months to September 2016, just 41,643 NZ citizens left NZ long-term, so the latest departure figures are 55% higher.

Over the same period, fewer New Zealanders have been returning, with 39,238 returning in the year to September 2016, which means returning NZ citizens have declined by almost a third (32%) over the last decade.

That means the current net loss of NZ citizens is almost 16 times as high as it was 10 years ago, rising from 2405 in the year to September 2016, to 37,794 in the 12 months to September this year.

The current losses of NZ citizens are being more than made up for by non-NZ citizens moving to this country.

In the September year there was an estimated net gain of 60,405 non-NZ citizens, up 23% compared to the previous 12 months.