Record number leave to live in Australia
New Zealand had a net migration loss for a third consecutive month as large numbers of people continue to head to Australia to live.
Net outflow of 3300 to Australia in May
The net outflow of 3300 migrants to Australia last month was up from 1700 in May 2010, and higher than the previous May month record net outflow of 2900 in 1979, Statistics New Zealand (SNZ) said today.
The lure of Australia has combined with flight from earthquake-damaged Christchurch to accelerate the trend.
Economists pointed out that the flow of people out of Christchurch could pick up pace as more insurance payouts are made.
On a seasonally adjusted basis, a net outflow of 400 migrants was recorded in May.
Numbers leaving had been higher than those arriving since March when there was a jump in departures from Christchurch following the February earthquake.
Unadjusted, permanent and long term departures outnumbered arrivals by 2100 last month, compared to 1300 more departures than arrivals in May 2010.
The main contributor to the higher net outflow was 1300 more departures of New Zealand citizens to Australia. That was partly offset by 500 more arrivals of non-New Zealand citizens, SNZ said.
More leave Christchurch
Permanent and long term departures departures (PLT) of Christchurch residents numbered 800 in May, up from 500 in May 2010, while PLT arrivals into the city decreased from 400 to 300 over the same period.
Between the February 22 earthquake and the end of May, there had been 1300 more departures from Christchurch and 400 fewer arrivals into that city, compared with the same period in 2010.
The net migration gain of 4600 in the May year was below the annual average gain for the December years from 1991 to 2010 of 12,000.
The net PLT outflow to Australia was 28,600 in the May year, up from the 15,200 in the May 2010 year but under the 30,500 in 2009, SNZ said.
The latest net outflow resulted from 43,800 departures to Australia being partly offset by 15,200 arrivals from Australia. In both directions, most migrants were New Zealand citizens.
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Comments and questions11
Getting a job outside NZ is better than living on the DOLE....
Helping out the Ockers again, Foreign is still alive.
Sorry, Foreign Aid is still alive
I bet they're not the spongers on our tax system either.... they're here waiting for labour and handouts!!
No surprises here.
Many more will be forced to leave NZ if the Nats get in for another term of economic mismanagement. You can bank on it.
They're all assuming things are better over the ditch... I'm going to say that for a lot of them, the "life of the empty show" means that battling away "over there" translates into an overall quality of life that isn't really any better (unless of course, they are in Christchurch and are fleeing).
Gillard is dog meat in the polls, the 'country' independents who support her are only staying on because an election will mean being thrown out of office... and mortgage arrears threaten the whole housing market... if you think our economy is a two speed... then when you look at those GDP figures, wander around the real estate agent offices out in Western Sydney for the mortgagee auction listings or in the retail malls outside the city centre.
Thats Western Sydney, had to happen sooner or later. I wouldn't gauge anything on that.
The shortage of qualified people in most areas is very noticable.
I have to agree with you Raffles. And selling our Assets, not only unforgivable but ruining NZ!.
If you're sick of what little NZ has to offer you and your families' futures, consider WA where anyone with skills and experience is welcomed with really competitive salaries/wage rates.
With more than A$400b in expansion already under way in the resources sector alone, prospects generally look rosy for a good few years yet.
Lots of Canterbury people here already.
I am sure for some,this will be the case but i know many many people that shifted and never came back. for the over the past 30 plus years the economy here in nz has been rubbish, good for a few but poor for most who generally only want to earn a decent wage so they can get ahead ,all most want is to work to provide a reasonable standard of living but even this is now not possible. If wanting to better ones self and having to emigrate is the answer then who can blame them? I wish them all the best.
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