Annual net migration was provisionally estimated at 50,900 (± 900) in the year ended January 2019 compared with 52,700
in the previous year, Stats NZ said today.
Despite the fall in net migration, provisional estimates of migrant arrivals increased in the year ended January 2019,
up 4,000 to 144,200. The top source countries for arrivals were:
• Australia (25,100 – 15,200 of which were NZ citizens)
• China (14,700)
• India (12,600)
• United Kingdom (10,200).
Provisional estimates of migrant departures were also up 5,800 to 93,300. The larger increase for departures meant net
migration for the year ended January 2019 was down 1,800 when compared with the year ended January 2018.
“Net migration continues to remain at historically high levels,” population indicators manager Tehseen Islam said.
“This has been the case since 2014, with a peak in 2016.”
Citizenship
In the year ended January 2019 there were 109,800 migrant arrivals for non-New Zealand citizens and 47,800 migrant
departures for a net gain of 62,000 non-New Zealand citizens.
The number of non-New Zealand citizen departures was higher than that of departures for New Zealand citizens (45,600),
but New Zealand citizens had much fewer arrivals (34,300) leading to a net loss of 11,200 New Zealand citizens.
Why are we talking about migration for January 2019?
Annual arrival and departure data are subject to notably less revision at 5–6 months after the reference period. By this
time there is more certainty about whether travellers are short-term or long-term (migrants), according to the 12/16-month rule.
The first provisional estimate of net migration for the January 2019 year (published in March 2019) was 58,400 (±
1,600). Over the past 5 months, this figure has been revised down to 50,900 (± 1,300). The uncertainty bounds reflect
the model uncertainty, not the extent of future revisions to the estimates.
Year ended June 2019 – provisional migration estimates
Some users of migration data may still want to look at the most recent provisional data.
Provisional estimates for the year ended June 2019:
• migrant arrivals – 145,300 (± 1,400)
• migrant departures – 95,900 (± 1,400)
• net migration gain – 49,400 (± 1,700).
Migration estimates for the year ended February 2018 have now been finalised with a net migration of 51,500.
Final estimates of subnational migration now available
This month, we’ve resumed international migration statistics by New Zealand place of residence. These statistics
previously relied on address information supplied on passenger cards, but now use geographic information from the
Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI). For the first time, statistics for Auckland can now be disaggregated further to
the 21 local board areas. For information on the new method, see Subnational Migration – DataInfo+.
Subnational estimates of final migrant arrivals and departures, and net migration, are available for years ended May
2015 to February 2018 and monthly back to June 2014. The geographic breakdowns of migration are available for New
Zealand’s 16 regional council areas, 67 territorial authority areas, and 21 Auckland local board areas.
The graphs below show the difference in net migration between the 12/16-month rule outcomes-based measure and the old
PLT (permanent and long term) intentions-based measure.
Differences in net migration between the two measures reflect several factors. The outcomes measure is a more accurate
measure of national migration levels. It is also a better measure of where migrant arrivals end up going, and where
migrant departures leave from, within New Zealand. This is because it is based on actual outcomes, not stated intentions
on passenger cards. The new method for determining place of residence also has higher response rates than was obtained
from passenger cards.
“Differences in net migration between the two measures have been more significant for Auckland where they appear to have
been overstated by the PLT measure,” Mr Islam said.
“This was true for New Zealand overall, where the old measure overstated net migration by about 34,000 between 2015 and
2017.”
Over the three-year period ended February 2018, estimated net migration for Auckland based on the outcomes measure was
85,600 (187,800 migrant arrivals and 102,200 migrant departures). In comparison, net migration based on the
intentions-based measure was 101,300 (168,200 PLT arrivals and 66,900 PLT departures).
“Other regions like Northland and Bay of Plenty, however, have been understated. This reflects the difference in where
people say they are migrating to and where they actually end up going.”
We are currently assessing the frequency that these subnational statistics will be released and assessing a method for
producing subnational provisional migration estimates.
Update on statistics and methods
An extended migration series back to the early 2000s will be available by October 2019, following finalisation of
longitudinal travel histories to enable the outcomes-based measure to be derived. Revised national population estimates
back to the September 2013 quarter, being published on 15 August 2019, are using interim backcast net migration
estimates. These population estimates for the 2013–18 period will be revised again by March 2020 to incorporate 2018
Census and 2018 Post-enumeration Survey results, and any updated final birth, death, and migration estimates.