There was a net migration loss of 37,800 New Zealand citizens in the September 2026 year.
This was made up of 26,700 migrant arrivals (up 5%) and 64,500 departures (down 1%).
Migrant departures of New Zealand citizens aged 15 to 24 reached 15,800 in the September 2026 year, up 6% from the previous year.
This contributed to a net loss of 11,500 for this age group, the largest net loss of any age group in the September 2026 year.
“The rise in youth migrant departures was particularly driven by increases for 18- and 19-year-olds,” Drake said.
Migrant departures of New Zealand citizens aged 25 to 34 were 16,100, down 5% from the September 2025 year.
On a monthly basis, the trend was more positive.
Estimates for September 2026 compared with September 2025 were 11,200 migrant arrivals, up 2%
Meanwhile, migrant departures were down 11% at 7700.
Monthly net migration saw a gain of 3500, compared with a gain of 2400 in September 2025.
Extrapolating the September net migration rate would equate to an annual net migration gain of 42,000.
The long-term historic average for net migration is an annual gain of around 30,000.
Tourist numbers rise
Overseas visitor arrivals totalled 3.74 million in the September 2026 year, up 309,800 (9%) on the September 2025 year, according to the Stats NZ figures.
Australia and China led the increase.
There were 1.61 million visitor arrivals from Australia in the September 2026 year, up 123,500 (8%) on the previous year.
Visitor arrivals from China increased by 94,100 (38%) to 340,100.
“Together, Australia and China accounted for almost three-quarters of the increase in overseas visitor arrivals to New Zealand in the September 2026 year,” Stats NZ’s Drake said.
Strong visitor arrivals growth, combined with the weak New Zealand dollar, would likely drive a lift in tourism spending over the third quarter and underpin a strong positive contribution to the country’s exports of services, ASB’s Turner said.
Visitor arrivals are now just 4.2% below pre-Covid peaks.
Liam Dann is business editor-at-large for the New Zealand Herald. He is a senior writer and columnist, and also presents and produces videos and podcasts. He joined the Herald in 2003.
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