Cricket, Easter and overseas school holidays falling in March have boosted visitor arrives to New Zealand to a record high for that month.

The country saw nearly 292 thousand visitors - 15 percent higher than the same month a year ago.

Statistics New Zealand says the earlier holidays saw more arrivals particularly from Australia and the UK.

The Cricket World Cup boosted arrival numbers from India.

There was a net inflow of five thousand migrants in March - the number of New Zealanders heading to Australia is hovering at the lowest point in decades.