New data released by Statistics NZ shows in December 2011 there were 364,165 short-term visitors and 127,356 short-term NZ-resident travellers, both 10-year highs for December.

Permanent long-term migrants fell 3.5% from 7225 in December 2010 to 6970 in December 2011.

Net permanent and long-term migration was at a 10-year low for both the year and December month, with respective net losses of 1855 and 984.

Japan, Germany and Korea were the largest sources of short-term visitor arrivals contributing 68,963, 63,719 and 52,787 respectively.

154,317 visitors from Australia cited business as their reason for visiting, down 0.5% from 2010. China had the largest growth of business visitors, rising 15.4% from 10,808 in 2010 to 12,474 in 2011.

51,054 people left long-term for Australia in 2011 up 38.6% on 2010’s 36,830 long-term departures.