New Zealand posts record annual migration gains in May

[WELLINGTON] New Zealand posted record-high migration gains in the year to May, led by arrivals from India, Australia, the Philippines and China, official data showed on Monday.

The country, which is experiencing a migration boom thanks to a solid economy, had a net gain of 57,822 permanent and long-term migrants in the year to May 30, a record high for the 10th consecutive month, Statistics New Zealand said.

For the month there was a seasonally adjusted net gain of 5,140 people compared with a net gain of 4,770 in April. Annual gains were driven by a rise in arrivals from India on student visas.

The country posted net migration gains from Australia for the second consecutive month, while a net 1,382 New Zealanders left for Australia in the year to May, the smallest annual loss since 1992.

The net migration gains from neighbouring Australia are the first since 1991.

The number of short-term visitors to New Zealand rose 9.5 per cent on the year due to an ongoing rise in arrivals from China. This took the total number of visitors to 2.98 million for the year, up 6.9 per cent from a year ago.

REUTERS