NZ June migration loss to Aust hits 30-year high

NZPA

Thursday 21st July 2011

New Zealand had its highest June migration loss to Australia in 30 years last month, latest figures show.

The net outflow of 3100 migrants to Australia last month was up from 1800 in June 2010, and the highest June total since 1981, Statistics New Zealand (SNZ) said today.

For the year to June, the net migrant outflow of 29,900 to Australia was the largest June year loss of people across the Tasman since 2008.

Seasonally adjusted, there was an overall net outflow of 300 migrants last month.

SNZ said net migration had been negative since March when there was a jump in departures from Christchurch following the deadly February 22 earthquake.

Unadjusted, there were more than 1500 permanent and long term (PLT) departures in June, compared to 700 more departures than arrivals a year earlier, SNZ said.

The main contributor to the net outflow was 1000 more departures of New Zealand citizens to Australia, partly offset by 400 more arrivals of non-New Zealand citizens.

The 600 PLT departures from Christchurch in June was up from 500 a year earlier, while PLT arrivals into the city fell from 500 to 300.

PLT departures from Christchurch between March and May were almost double those in the same months in 2010, SNZ said.

In the year to June, New Zealand had a net migration gain of 3900 people, well below the annual average gain of 12,000 in the years between 1991 and 2010.

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