Migration added 30,592 people to New Zealand's population in the 12 months to the end of November last year, or approximately 2500 a month, according to the latest migration estimates from Statistics NZ.
That was made up of 158,425 people who arrived long-term, and 127,833 who departed long-term, giving the net gain of 30,592.
The long-term arrivals comprised 24,983 NZ citizens returning after an extended stay overseas, and 133,442 citizens of other countries.
The long-term departures comprised 72,936 NZ citizens leaving long-term, and 54,897 citizens of other countries.
That meant there was a net loss 47,953 NZ citizens in the 12 months to end of November, and a net gain of 78,545 citizens of other countries, leaving the overall gain of 30,592.
Stats NZ said the 127,833 people who left NZ long-term in the 12 months to November was provisionally the highest number of long-term departures ever recorded in any 12 month period.
Analysed by citizenship, Indian citizens made up the biggest number of long-term arrivals at 28,541, followed by 24,983 returning NZ citizens, 16,025 citizens from China, 15,826 from the Philippines, 5913 from Sri Lanka, 5503 from Fiji, 5454 from the UK and 4738 from South Africa.
The chart below shows the month-by-month trend in net long-term migration.
Net long term migration
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67 Comments
I noticed a huge number of Indians in various parts of the Coro over the break. Large families, multiple cars. Many laughing and goofing around, it was nice to see.
They do the work we don't want to because we have worthless degree's and it's all beneath us now, or we're on welfare. I've seen it first hand. Home nursing, uber driving, hospitality. It is what it is, and it's not just NZ.
It's a standard of living arbitrage, they arrive and improve their standard of living, Kiwi's go to Oz and improve their standard of living.
More export dollars per capita, lower total imports. Lower wages due to lower land demand/prices = more internationally competitive (without any hit to quality of life - still live in the same houses but with more space. Less time spent in traffic in the major centres. We could export just as much with 3 million population and some prioritisation of the labour market towards exporting instead of making each other coffees.
I didn't notice any more chaos when our population was 3 million. Did you?
If you are thinking of the chaos on the leveraged spreadsheets? Maybe some yes, but it will pass, and things will be repriced while the productive parts of the economy still exported. NZ really should be first mover on lower pop while other nations are trading relatively freely. If you want chaos, consider what NZ would be like if we couldn't trade with lower vs higher populations. NZ history might have some insights.
True that. What was I thinking. Never mind, hopefully there will still be Australia to escape to. Even if Dutton cans the citizenship path, we can always claim refugee status.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/indian-workers-claim-they-were-made-to-wo…
improve their standard of living
Agree. But at what cost to those that remain in NZ is the real question?
I'll get you started, accepting a smaller share of available recourses and infrastructure (the estimated benefit being in the 100'000's of dollars comes out of those that are already here's share). Businesses that don't want to train locals. Wages for 'easy' jobs that are lower than the work would otherwise demand was paid (hint, I'll drive a bus or clean toilets for $100 per hour - it's not the work is below us, it's the pay has not been allowed to follow normal supply and demand). Your home ''nursing' care example, I did that much of last year for an Uncle (for free). The work isn't beneath me at all (I have a degree and diploma from Otago Uni), but I'm not interested in doing it as a job for $23 or whatever they pay per hour without the x hundred k bonus a non-resident/citizen is in line to receive.
Take residence visas out of the equation and then you'll be much closer to comparing apples with apples when putting down the local work ethic.
Yes. Business owners complain they "can't find staff willing to do the work" not because of a shortage of locals but because no one is willing to do everything for the minimum that they're wanting to pay. So they cry to the government to open the immigration floodgates so they can have access unlimited cheap labour.
Who are they though? Recent retirees who dont qualify for Australian super returning back to NZ to spend time with the grandkids before heading back to Australia when they've spent all their money? People who have gotten sick and cant work, and dont qualify for benefits over there? Single parents who don't qualify for parenting benefits? Children who are moving back here to study and get a student loan?
I wouldnt assume that all those coming back are productive workers, when they may just be more people here to drain the system.
Who do we always have so comments about Indians in NZ, anc the work they do. They've been here for 100 years, they are from all walks of oife, are in all sorts of professions. Many came via Fiji after being royally f'ed over by the British... so what.
Around my place there are a heap of Pacific Island people, many of whom don't work at all, hardly ever leave the house years on end. So what... well.. there is actually plenty of work recession notwithstanding.
... mine , too ... • At the Labour Party conference Chris Hipkins has announced that 2025 will be a great year for Labour ... they're coming back , strap yourselves in .... woo hooooo , a return to the good old days of 2017-2023 ...
Free pixy dust & unicorns for everyone ...but , more for Maori & Islanders ...
You have been manipulated by oligarchs, politicians and grifters to hate those who have the least power in society.
It is done in order to enrich the wealthy and grifters, and distract people from their further conglomeration of wealth by changing the rules, taking more and giving less in return.
Customs PAX data for 2024 was ~ +7,000 (considerable margin of error on my calc though, I just used the thousands in my head).
https://www.customs.govt.nz/globalassets/documents/statistics/oia-respo…
Don't worry, I heard Nicola Willis is going to open up immigration.
Can't believe Nact's transformation of NZ is taking so long to pay off. They have tried firing a whole lot of public servants, neglecting the infrastructure/capital projects and borrowing for tax cuts for the wealthy. Must be because of Labour, or the woke that everyone is voting with their feet.
To be fair I was calling him "One term Luxon" about a year ago. It was obvious to me that National had no clue how they would solve any of the issues they where inheriting and since than they've accumulated a few more.
Bishop was the only one who came out swinging but seems to have lost momentum now.
Might have to start giving away citizenship to immigrants
No need to stress just yet KW, they're still willing to buy jobs/residence in good numbers at this stage. We are such exceptional people that so many foreigners want to come here...
But you're right, we should be prepared for the inevitable from Nat/Lab and I don't blame them as it's the easiest way to self-preserve (big change is too risky to them). Why small parties (looking at you TOP) cannot put forward a logical alternative to growing our population and credit via selling land for ever increasing amounts I don't understand. Also Māori, Green and NZF although they have something to lose (current seats in the house) I guess.
Why small parties (looking at you TOP) cannot put forward a logical alternative to growing our population and credit via selling land for ever increasing amounts I don't understand.
Maybe they have tried but the media aren't listening? Much cheaper and easier to regurgitate overseas content and supplement it with cuddly pet stories than have some alternative political viewpoints.
... excellent point ... if house prices weren't so insanely high , if they were truly affordable , then our rentals & mortgage repayments would be much lower too ... effectively more money left in our wallets after all weekly expenses ...
By joves , Dr Watson , I think we've solved it !
The weight of debt based Aussie bank profit invades every single corner of every business and house hold in NZ, regardless of whether you have a mortgage or not. Nurses, police, doctors, teachers and the goods and services they use everyday probably do. Wage pressure and inflation on everything wages touch.
#wageandpricespiral
Blimmin heck it’s no wonder everyone is leaving if we’re all this gloomy (comments above).
We still have all the same good things that enabled NZ to be the little country that could - fantastic climate, massive oceans, fertile land and no shortage of resources - either natural or human - we just seem to have forgotten that how we put them together is up to us - half our problem is that we’re perennially ‘waiting for a saviour’ in politics and assume that if we get one our problems are solved.
They won’t be. We collectively make up NZ - not just those in Welly.
Culture has become our problem - it determines what we expect from our lawmakers and ourselves and how we live up to that (ps not talking race relations). We don’t value education like we once did and that is a massive issue also.
I think you will find most are leaving because they want to be paid more and be then able to save some money for things such as their first home. I personally know several young professionals who have gone to London. The jobs are more stimulating and the salaries are better. I know it is expensive to live in London but they are saying they are still better off than in NZ. Then there is the close travel opportunities.
I don’t know where you live but until recently we have generally had a terrible summer, especially Christchurch and Wellington. Incomes in NZ are terrible for the majority. How they survive continually surprises me. Our education, roading and medical services are under strain. Inflation has been huge until recently and our housing quality is average at best. I can easily see why so many have left. My wife and I and our children luckily don’t need to leave. I am part of the lucky generation.
Landgirl,
Not everyone here is so gloomy, interest forums for some reason attracts a large percentage of them.
NZ is a great place to be, which i believe is why people came here in the first place, and will continue to do when they are sick of living in the desert.
People don't come to NZ for our economy, our education, our healthcare, they come for our nature, our beaches and mountains.
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