Fewer New Zealanders Migrating to Australia

Fewer New Zealanders Migrating to Australia

In the year ended September 2002 there was a net outflow to Australia of 12,800 permanent and long-term (PLT) migrants, according to Statistics New Zealand. This was less than half the net outflow of 28,400 in the September 2001 year. Conversely, there were significant net inflows from China (14,600), India (6,500), the United Kingdom (5,900), South Africa (3,100), Japan (2,300), Fiji (2,200) and Korea (2,000) in the September 2002 year. The overall result was a net inflow of 37,100 PLT migrants, compared with a net outflow of 1,700 in the previous year.

Permanent and long-term arrivals exceeded departures by 4,400 in the month of September 2002, compared with a net inflow of 3,500 in September 2001. This change was the result of 400 more arrivals, and 500 fewer departures.

Looking at overseas visitors, there were 136,100 short-term arrivals in New Zealand in September 2002, up 4,900 (or 4 percent) on September 2001. This included more visitors from China (up 2,300), the United States (up 1,300), Japan (up 1,300), the United Kingdom (up 1,200) and Korea (up 1,200). However, there were fewer visitors from Australia (down 3,500). The number of stay days for all visitor arrivals was up 6 percent on the previous September from 2.9 million to 3.0 million days, while the average length of stay was unchanged at 22 days.

In the year ended September 2002, there were 1.965 million visitor arrivals, about 30,000 (or 2 percent) more than in the previous September year. China (up 20,300), Korea (up 17,700) and the United Kingdom (up 17,600) were the main contributors to this increase, while fewer visitors were contributed by Australia (down 14,600) and Japan (down 11,700).

Seasonally adjusted visitor arrivals fell 2 percent between August and September 2002.

This follows a 1 percent fall from July to August 2002.

New Zealand residents departed on 136,300 short-term overseas trips in September 2002, about 500 fewer than in September 2001. Fewer chose Australia (down 4,500), Samoa, Thailand and Japan (all down 400) as main destinations. In contrast, more travelled to the United States (up 1,700), France, the United Kingdom (both up 500) and China (up 400).

In the year ended September 2002, New Zealand resident short-term departures totalled 1.265 million, about 48,000 (or 4 percent) fewer than in the previous September year.

Brian Pink Government Statistician

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