Migration to NZ rises in March on seasonally adjusted basis

New Zealand had a net increase in permanent and long-term (PLT) migration of 313 in March 2009 in actual terms, as more Kiwis returned home and more Chinese and Indian migrants arrived. The monthly net migration compares to net outflows of 1,000 in both March 2008 and 2007. Seasonally adjusted net migration rose to 1,720 in March from 480 a year ago. Statistics New Zealand (Stats NZ) said that the net increase for March was due to 1,000 fewer permanent and long-term departures, including 800 fewer departures to Australia than in March 2008. A total 1,756 New Zealand citizens returned home in March on a PLT basis, up from around 1,550 in both March 2008 and 2007. Non-citizen PLT arrivals rose by about 100 from March 2008 to 4,861.

New Zealand citizens leaving the country on a PLT basis fell by 1,000 to 4,284 in March from a year ago. Non New Zealand citizens departing on a PLT basis rose to 2,020 over the month, its highest since at least 1999. A large number of the new non-New Zealand citizen arrivals in March were from China and India. Net migration from China rose by 143 to 280 in March from the same month a year ago, while net migration from India rose by 215 to 541. "In the year to March 2009, New Zealand experienced a net PLT migration of 7,482. Of the PLT arrivals who did require a permit, 24,100 arrived on work permits, 16,100 arrived on student permits, 14,500 arrived on residence permits, and 5,400 arrived on visitor permits," Stats NZ said. "Compared with the March 2008 year, there were more PLT arrivals on student permits (up 3,000) and work permits (up 2,200), but fewer arrivals on residence permits (down 700). The majority of residence approvals in recent years have been granted onshore, to people who arrived on other permit types," it said.