Net migration positive again in June as departures to Australia and UK fall away (Update 2)

New Zealand recorded positive net permanent and long-term (PLT) migration of 730 in June, compared to an outflow of 583 the same month a year ago, figures released by Statistics New Zealand (Stats NZ) show. (Update 2 includes NZ citizen, Indian, UK migration.) There were 5,746 PLT arrivals in June, compared to 5,016 departures. This compared to 6,362 arrivals and 6,945 departures in June 2008 (falls of 9.7% and 27.8% respectively). "The increase (in net PLT from June 2008) was mainly due to 1,900 fewer PLT departures, including 1,600 fewer departures to Australia and 400 fewer to the United Kingdom, Government Statistician Geoff Bascand said. "There were also 200 more PLT arrivals of New Zealand citizens, while arrivals of non-New Zealand citizens decreased by 800," Bascand said. Seasonally adjusted, PLT migration in June was 1,740. This was down from 2,580 in May and 2,120 in April. From the seasonally adjusted figures, the trend in net PLT migration has been rising steadily from October 2008. In the year ended June 2009, net PLT migration was 12,515. This was the highest June year since 22,008 in the year ended June 2004. Net PLT migration from India was 327 in June, one higher than from the United Kingdom. However there were 1,107 arrivals from the UK compared to 401 from India. Over half of the arrivals from India this year have come on student visas, whereas migrants from the UK are more likely to come for work or residence. Net PLT migration to Australia from New Zealand was 1,165 in June, compared to an exodus of almost 3,000 in June 2008. In the year ended June 2009, there were a net 28,676 departures to Australia compared to 31,923 the year before. There were 1,726 New Zealand citizens who came back to the country permanently in June, up from 1,531 in 2008. The level of NZ citizen arrivals hit its highest level for a June month since 2003 (1,822). On the other side of this, permanent departures of New Zealand citizens (2,949) was its lowest for a June month since 2003 (2,785).