{"id":962089,"date":"2026-11-12T18:38:37","date_gmt":"2026-11-12T18:38:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/962089\/"},"modified":"2026-11-12T18:38:37","modified_gmt":"2026-11-12T18:38:37","slug":"migration-data-fewer-kiwis-leave-net-gains-expected-to-boost-economy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/962089\/","title":{"rendered":"Migration data: Fewer Kiwis leave, net gains expected to boost economy"},"content":{"rendered":"
There was a net migration loss of 37,800 New Zealand citizens in the September 2026 year. <\/p>\n
This was made up of 26,700 migrant arrivals (up 5%) and 64,500 departures (down 1%).<\/p>\n
Migrant departures of New Zealand citizens aged 15 to 24 reached 15,800 in the September 2026 year, up 6% from the previous year.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe rise in youth migrant departures was particularly driven by increases for 18- and 19-year-olds,\u201d Drake said.<\/p>\n
Migrant departures of New Zealand citizens aged 25 to 34 were 16,100, down 5% from the September 2025 year.<\/p>\n
On a monthly basis, the trend was more positive.<\/p>\n
Estimates for September 2026 compared with September 2025 were 11,200 migrant arrivals, up 2%<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, migrant departures were down 11% at 7700.<\/p>\n
Monthly net migration saw a gain of 3500, compared with a gain of 2400 in September 2025.<\/p>\n
Extrapolating the September net migration rate would equate to an annual net migration gain of 42,000.<\/p>\n
The long-term historic average for net migration is an annual gain of around 30,000. <\/p>\n
Tourist numbers rise<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Australia and China led the increase.<\/p>\n
There were 1.61 million visitor arrivals from Australia in the September 2026 year, up 123,500 (8%) on the previous year.<\/p>\n
Visitor arrivals from China increased by 94,100 (38%) to 340,100.<\/p>\n
\u201cTogether, Australia and China accounted for almost three-quarters of the increase in overseas visitor arrivals to New Zealand in the September 2026 year,\u201d Stats NZ\u2019s Drake said.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s exports of services, ASB\u2019s Turner said.<\/p>\n
Visitor arrivals are now just 4.2% below pre-Covid peaks.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n