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Record-breaking migration to NZ

Author
Rosie Gordon, AAP,
Publish Date
Mon, 27 Feb 2017, 12:48PM
File photo (Getty Images)
File photo (Getty Images)

Record-breaking migration to NZ

Author
Rosie Gordon, AAP,
Publish Date
Mon, 27 Feb 2017, 12:48PM

Migrants are breaking records and boosting the economy, with more people settling in New Zealand than ever before.

Annual net migration rose to 71,305 in the 12 months ended January 31, eclipsing the record 70,600 set in calendar 2016, Statistics New Zealand said.

People arriving as permanent and long-term migrants outnumbered those departing by 128,290 to 56,985 in the latest 12 months.

Of those arriving, 56,231, or 44 per cent of the total were bound for Auckland, more than four times the number headed for the second-most popular destination of Canterbury with 12,785.

A majority of the new-comers are crossing the ditch from Australia and they're not struggling to get jobs with work visas up by more than 4,000.

Economist Daniel Snowden believes the numbers bode well for our economy.

"It's good news for growth," he said. "More people, more workers, lots of them finding employment and generally boosting overall economic growth."

International travel statistics reveal that visitor arrivals are up by around 37,500. Last month was our busiest with 380,000 people touching down to enjoy the Kiwi summer - most of them coming from Australia and China.

 - with additional reporting from AAP

 

 

 

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