Sharechat Logo

NZ: Falling net-permanent migration

Monday 4th February 2008

Text too small?
The net number of permanent migrants dropped to just 20 in December, as the number of departures continued to rise.

The tiny increase in net-permanent migration is the smallest since May 2001 (when departures exceeded arrivals by 250 emigrants).

Over the 2007 year, immigration growth moderated to the slowest pace in over six years. The drop in immigration points to weaker demand for housing and a drop in consumption growth. Departures bounced to 13.1% in 2007, while arrivals fell 0.2%.

Net-permanent immigration placed a solid floor under housing activity and consumption growth in 2006 and early 2007.

The recent downward shift in immigration has effectively lowered that floor into 2008, and the downside risk to housing market activity and consumption growth has risen as a result.

That said, given the slowdown globally, fewer Kiwi's are likely to depart New Zealand in 2008, and a larger amount of expatriates may return home - bolstering the net migration numbers somewhat.

The number of short-term visitor arrivals fell 1.2% in December. The fall in tourists to New Zealand represents the third monthly decline in four months, and points to a reduction in service exports over the quarter.

  General Finance Advertising    

Comments from our readers

No comments yet

Add your comment:
Your name:
Your email:
Not displayed to the public
Comment:
Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved.

Related News:

July 1st Morning Report
June 27th Morning Report
SDL - FY2026 Earnings Guidance
PaySauce Director resigns for US-based role with NZTE
General Capital Releases 2025 Annual Report
June 26th Morning Report
Devon Funds Morning Note - 25 June 2025
June 25th Morning Report
NWF - NZ Windfarms shareholders approve Meridian acquisition
GMT - GMT and GMT Bond Issuer Limited 2025 Annual Report