The latest data showed that more people are visiting New Zealand and choosing to live and work in the country led by Indians, Australians, and Chinese. In fact, NZ recently welcomed 24,504 migrants coming from the neighboring county Australia.
According to Statistics NZ, 25,273 people migrated to New Zealand from Australia in 2015 and in which almost two thirds of them were New Zealanders returning home. A total of 24,504 people moved from New Zealand to Australia, making a net flow of 769 people going in the country.
The yearly gain in migrants has even set records for the past 17 months. Arrivals increased to 12 percent to 121,900 in December 2015 and the departures fell 2 percent to 57,000.
There was a seasonally adjusted net gain of 5,500 migrants in December, which considered low considering the all-time high of 6,200 in November. The net inflow of migrants from Australia continued, with a net gain of 200 in December, the ninth month in a row, NBR reported.
And of the entire migrant arrivals in the December year, 25,300 were from Australia. Fewer New Zealand citizens left to head to Australia, with departures down 11 percent to 21,100 in 2015, less than half the peak departures set in 2010.
Michael Gordon, senior economist at Westpac, stated via NZ Herald that the continuing net immigration will cause New Zealand's annual population growth rate to reach its highest peak since 1974. He added, "the balance of transtasman job opportunities is now shifting, with Australia reporting strong jobs growth and a lower unemployment rate than New Zealand. If this trend continues, New Zealand will eventually become a less attractive destination."
NZ's economic and political stability and the end of Australia's mining boom, have been named as the reasons for the shift. The country's Reserve Bank governor Graeme Wheeler also mentioned last week that tourism, construction activity and a lift in business and consumer confidence would power growth in 2016.
The entire part of NZ had also claimed a net gain of international migrants in December, with most heading to Auckland and Canterbury. Just over half of the migrants with a stated address on their arrival card were moving to the Auckland, which records 34 percent of New Zealand's population.
Meanwhile, New Zealand and Australia have an agreement which allows most citizens to live and work in either country. The net increase in immigration from Australia to New Zealand is not only due to New Zealand citizens returning, but also because Australians and citizens of other countries are moving to NZ.
