Net migration dips into negative

After having annual net migration gains since June 2013, we are now seeing an annual net migration loss, Stats NZ said today.

The latest estimates show a provisional net loss of 1,700 people in the year ended October 2021. A net gain of 7,400 New Zealand citizens was more than offset by a net loss of 9,100 non-New Zealand citizens.

"Historically, New Zealand has had an annual net migration gain of non-New Zealand citizens and an annual net migration loss of New Zealand citizens," population indicators manager Tehseen Islam said.

"Migration in the last two years reverses the pattern of the previous 40 years. This reflects disruption to migration flows caused by the COVID-19 pandemic."

"As a result of COVID-19, the number of New Zealand citizens leaving this country to live overseas has slowed considerably, and far fewer non-New Zealand citizens have migrated to New Zealand," Mr Islam said.

Text alternative for diagram International migration estimates (provisional), year ended October 2021

Border crossings up slightly

The total number of people crossing the New Zealand border picked up slightly in October 2021 compared with September 2021.

There were 20,800 border crossings in October 2021 (up from 16,100 in September 2021), made up of 11,000 arrivals and 9,800 departures.

Border crossings include all arrivals and departures, either for short-term trips or longer- term migration, by people living overseas or in New Zealand.

The increase in border crossings in October 2021 coincided with the opening of one-way, quarantine-free travel for workers from Vanuatu, Samoa, and Tonga as part of the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme. In November 2021, travellers from these countries, and Tokelau, who met certain conditions were able to travel quarantine-free to New Zealand.

Text alternative for diagram International migration estimates (provisional), year ended October 2021

Diagram shows outcomes-based (provisional) estimates of migration, by citizenship (New Zealand or non-New Zealand) for the year ended October 2021. Overall, net migration is -1,700, made up of a net gain of 7,400 NZ citizens (based on 24,700 migrant arrivals, a 41 percent decrease on the year ended October 2020, and 17,300 migrant departures, a one percent decrease) and a net loss of 9,100 non-NZ citizens (based on 21,600 migrant arrivals, a 72 percent decrease on the year ended October 2020, and 30,700 migrant departures, a 33 percent decrease).