Border crossings down as Trans-Tasman travel bubble deflates

Arrivals and departures across the New Zealand border fell in July 2021 from the previous two months, due to ongoing interruptions to two-way quarantine-free travel with Australia, Stats NZ said today.

Total movements across the New Zealand border in July 2021 were 147,900. This is down from 189,500 in May 2021 and 175,500 in June 2021.

Trans-Tasman travel made up almost three-quarters of all New Zealand border crossings in July 2021.

"The Trans-Tasman travel bubble has been the main driver of border crossings since it started in mid-April 2021," population indicators manager Tehseen Islam said.

"The fewer border crossings seen in July 2021 reflect ongoing pauses in travel from some Australian states and territories in July, and the suspension of quarantine-free travel from Australia to New Zealand in late July."

Provisional data for August 2021 shows a further fall in the number of border crossings. This also reflects the suspension of quarantine-free travel from New Zealand to Australia in mid-August. .

Australia and Cook Islands main destinations for New Zealand-resident travellers

In July 2021, 36,500 New Zealand residents returned from a short-term trip overseas. This is well below the 340,200 arrivals in July 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Of those who specified the main country visited in July 2021, 63 percent (22,300) were returning from a trip to Australia and 30 percent (10,700) from the Cook Islands.

About 70 percent of the New Zealand-resident arrivals returning from Australia in July 2021 were visiting friends and relatives, and 16 percent travelled for holiday and vacation.

Of those returning from the Cook Islands, 92 percent were on holiday and vacation, and 5 percent were visiting friends and relatives.

Victoria leads overseas visitor arrivals from Australia

The number of visitor arrivals from Australia in July 2021 was 25,900. Of those who specified a state/territory of residence, 42 percent were from Victoria, followed by Queensland (34 percent) and Western Australia (12 percent).

"New South Wales usually leads visitor arrivals from Australia. The pause to quarantine-free travel from New South Wales changed this pattern," Mr Islam said.

Of all visitor arrivals from Australia in July 2021, 58 percent were visiting friends and relatives and 34 percent were on holiday and vacation.

Low net migration

Net migration was provisionally estimated at 4,400 in the year ended July 2021 compared with 78,500 in the year ended July 2020, a drop of 74,100.

The net gain of 4,400 in the year ended July 2021 was made up of 47,000 migrant arrivals and 42,600 migrant departures.

There was a net migration gain of 14,300 New Zealand citizens and a net migration loss of 9,900 non-New Zealand citizens in the year ended July 2021.