International Travel and Migration: November 2009

International Travel and Migration: November 2009 – Media Release

Source: Statistics New Zealand

New Zealand’s annual net permanent and long-term (PLT) migration balance was a gain of 20,000 in the November 2009 year, up from 3,600 in the November 2008 year, Statistics New Zealand said today. The latest annual net migration total is the highest since the July 2004 year (20,600). The increase in net migration was driven largely by 17,300 fewer PLT departures compared with the previous year.

PLT departures decreased by 1,600 in the November 2009 month, including 1,500 fewer departures to Australia and 200 fewer departures to the United Kingdom. Since February 2009, PLT departures have fallen by at least 1,000 each month compared with the same month of the previous year. PLT arrivals decreased by 200 in November 2009.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, PLT arrivals exceeded PLT departures by 1,800 in the November 2009 month, similar to levels experienced since February 2009.

Visitor arrivals in November 2009 (219,900) were up 600 (less than 1 percent) compared with November 2008. Arrivals from Australia (up 7,300 or 9 percent) were again the major contributor, with November 2009 being the eighth consecutive month of large increases from across the Tasman. There were drops in visitors from the United States (down 2,400) and Canada (down 900). Visitor arrivals in the November 2009 year (2.439 million) were down 14,300 (1 percent) from the November 2008 year.

New Zealand residents departed on 158,400 short-term overseas trips in November 2009, up 3,200 (2 percent) from November 2008. There were more trips to India (up 1,100 or 22 percent), and the United States (up 1,000 or 19 percent), but fewer trips to the Cook Islands (down 800 or 18 percent) and Australia (down 800 or 1 percent). For the November 2009 year, short-term departures of New Zealand residents numbered 1.921 million, down 58,400 (3 percent) from the previous November year.

21 December 2009