Population growth from migration hit a new all time high of 60,290 people in the year to August.
The latest figures from Statistics NZ show that 117,866 people came to this country on a permanent and long term basis (12 months or more) in the year to August, up 13% from the previous year, and 57,576 departed on a long term basis which was down 5% on the previous year, leaving a net gain of 60,290.
That compares to a net gain of 43,483 in the year to August 2014 and a net gain of 12,848 in the year to August 2013, meaning population growth from migration has more than quadrupled in the last two years (see interactive graph which plots the monthly changes in net migration since 1990).
In the month of August there was a net gain of 5346, compared to 4695 in the same month last year and 2255 in August 2013.
In a Quickview newsletter on the migration numbers, ASB senior economist Chris Tennent-Brown said the extremely high migration inflows showed no sign of moderating.
"Strong net migration inflows are helping support robust levels of consumption but are also adding workers to the labour market and helping keep a lid on inflation," he said.
"Continued strong inflows will support labour capacity and contain wages.
"Housing demand will also remain fuelled by the flows, particularly in Auckland.
"Picking the timing of a change in current migration patterns is difficult.
"The local economy is cooling, but offshore labour markets and economic conditions remain mixed.
"We expect net migration to remain at or around the current level for at least the next quarter."
The biggest source country for migrants remains India with a net migrant inflow of 12,676 in the year to August, followed by China and Hong Kong, 9102, The Philippines 4543 and the UK 3791.
There was a net loss of 529 people to Australia in the year to August but a net gain of 243 people from across the Tasman in the month of August.
Of the 60,290 net arrivals in the year to August, 27,862 intended to settle in Auckland, although the actual number that did so was likely to be around 35,000 because another 14,711 did not state where they intended to live when they arrived and many of those were likely to have settled in Auckland.
Of the 117,866 people in total who arrived on a long term basis in the year to August, the biggest group (35,895) came here on work visas, followed by 35,167 Australian and New Zealand citizens (who did not require visas) and 26,759 were on student visas, although many of those on student visas would have been on the pathway to residency that tertiary study in this country provides and will likely end up staying permanently.
There were 13,886 arrivals on residency visas.
| Country of Origin | Residence Visa | Student Visa | Work Visa |
| China | 2,432 | 5,138 | 1,608 |
| United Kingdom | 1,692 | 567 | 6,117 |
| Samoa | 1,205 | N/A | N/A |
| India | 959 | 10,569 | 1,154 |
| The Philippines | 702 | 1,732 | 1,968 |
| Australia | 542 | 78 | 2,975 |
| Germany | 92 | 319 | 2,970 |
| France | N/A | N/A | 3,131 |
| USA | 278 | 338 | 1,853 |
| Source: Statistics NZ |
We welcome your comments below. If you are not already registered, please register to comment
Remember we welcome robust, respectful and insightful debate. We don't welcome abusive or defamatory comments and will de-register those repeatedly making such comments. Our current comment policy is here.