- New Zealand experienced a net migration loss of 56,500 citizens in the year to April 2024.
- India led migrant arrivals with 48,000, while the largest departure group was New Zealanders at 81,200.
- Migrant departures to Australia resulted in a net loss of 24,200 people for the year ended September 2023.
New Zealand citizens continue to leave the country at record levels, according to new Stats NZ data.
More than 81,000 Kiwis departed long-term in the year to April for a net loss of 56,500, exceeding the previous record of 52,000 in the year to March.
A record number of Kiwis are departing as “New Zealand loses its lustre,” said ASB senior economist Mark Smith.
“This, combined with moderating arrivals of non-NZ citizens is expected to drive net migration inflows lower over time,” he said.
New Zealand’s total net migration gain remains at historically high levels but it continued to decline. New Zealand gained 98,500 migrants in the year to April.
That is down from 106,000 in the year to March.
“The provisional net migration gain of 98,500 in the April 2024 year was made up of a net gain of 154,900 non-New Zealand citizens, which more than offset a net migration loss of 56,500 New Zealand citizens,” Stats NZ said.
