Net migration to NZ up again in April, but not returning expats

Figures from Statistics NZ show seasonally adjusted net migration rose to 2,030 in April from 1,690 in March and has more than quadrupled in the last six months. But the figures also show that most of the net migration is driven by fewer New Zealanders leaving to live in Australia and more people from India, the Philippines, Japan, and China coming to New Zealand to live for more than six months as students or in temporary jobs such as on dairy farms. The biggest sources of net migration in the month were India (361), the Philippines (309), Japan (242), China (203) and then the United Kingdom (157). The number of net migrants to Australia fell 49% to 1,638 in April from a year ago, mainly because the number of New Zealand citizens leaving to live in Australia dropped 34% to 2,507 in April from a year ago. The number of New Zealanders returning to live permanently in New Zealand rose to 1,689 in April, the highest for an April since 1,784 in 2003. However, most of these New Zealanders are returning from Australia. The number of New Zealanders coming back across the Tasman rose 178 in April to 784, while the number of New Zealanders returning from other countries was 905, up by 78 from a year ago. Housing market observers have been watching the rise in net migration closely in recent months. Some have argued it has contributed to an upturn in market activity and prices, partly because cashed up New Zealand citizens returning from Britain are buying houses. But these figures suggest the number of ex-pats returning is small and is not rising much. House prices and activity in Britain have slumped, making it difficult for Kiwis to sell their houses there and return easily. Also, jobs are difficult to find here for those returning. Those forced to return by redundancy are being more careful with their money. In the year to April there were 3,100 more permanent arrivals on student permits than in the previous year, no doubt partly because of the fall in the New Zealand dollar, while the number on work permits rose by 1,700. There were 900 fewer arrivals in the year to April on residence permits, although most residence permits in recent years have been granted onshore to people on other permit types. Meanwhile, short term arrivals (tourism) continue to suffer in the global economic downturn, particularly from Britain and the United States. Tourism from Australia, however, was bouyant as Australians choose to holiday closer to home than long haul. The average number of tourists, family travellers and business travellers arriving in New Zealand each day in April fell 1% to 141,800 in April from April a year ago.