A record number of new migrants arrived in New Zealand in the year to November 30, according to provisional estimates released today. 

Stats NZ said migrant arrivals were estimated at 249,500, up 135 per cent compared with the November 2022 year. 

Departures were up too, but only by 29 per cent or an estimated 122,100. 

There was an annual net migration gain of 127,400, plus or minus 2500 people. 

That compared to an annual net gain of barely 11,000 in the November 2022 year. 

“The 249,500 migrant arrivals and 122,100 migrant departures in the November 2023 year are, provisionally, the highest on record for an annual period,” Stats NZ said today. 

The provisional net migration gain of 127,400 in the November 2023 year comprised a net gain of 171,900 non-citizens. 

But there was a net migration loss of 44,500 New Zealand citizens. 

That net migration loss was provisionally a new annual record, greater than previous record of 44,400 in the February 2012 year. 

Citizens of India, the Philippines, China, Fiji, and South Africa drove net migration gains in the November 2023 year, Stats NZ added. 

An estimated net 44,978 citizens of India arrived, 34,268 from the Philippines, 16,408 from China, 9854 from Fiji and 8319 from South Africa. 

Citizens of Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Samoa, the UK and Australia rounded out the top 10 in terms of arrivals. 

Brain drain to Australia? 

An estimated 2082 Australian citizens were net migrants in the November 2023 year. 

Slightly more dated data relating to transTtsman migration was also released today, 

For the year ended June 2023, Stats NZ recorded a provisional net migration loss of 21,100 people to Australia. 

That comprised 19,500 migrant arrivals from Australia to New Zealand, and 40,600 migrant departures heading in the opposite direction. 

“The provisional net migration loss to Australia in the year ended June 2023 was made up of a net loss of 21,400 New Zealand citizens, which more than offset a small net gain of 400 non-New Zealand citizens from Australia,” Stats NZ added. 

The agency said there had traditionally been a net migration loss from New Zealand to Australia, which averaged about 3000 a year during 2014–2019.