Indian arrivals at Auckland Airport tumble as Key heads to New Delhi

Auckland International Airport passenger movements show the number of Indians arriving in the country's main point of entry are declining, just at a time when Prime Minister John Key is trying to sell New Zealand to the world's largest democracy.

The number of arrivals from India fell 5.6% to 3328 in September from the same month a year earlier, and was down 12% to 8572 since Auckland Airport's financial year started in July, airport figures published on the NZX show.

India is the only country in the airport's top 10 to show a decline in arrivals on either measure. In contrast, the number of arrivals from Malaysia more than doubled to 4118 in September, albeit from a lower base. Arrivals from South Korea and the US also showed solid growth, up 47% to 3975 and 33% to 12,668 respectively in the month of September.

Figures published by Statistics New Zealand on migration last week showed the number of Indians migrating to New Zealand fell 3000 to 11,100 in the year to September 30. However, the figures for the month of September 2016 showed the total number of arrivals from India increased 19% to 3600 from 3,024 in September 2015.

Growth in the number of Indians coming to New Zealand to study has increased sharply in recent years but this is now being impacted by rows over the quality of the courses, the seemingly fraudulent use of documents by immigration agents in India and a row over the deportation of Indian students whose documents are invalid.

In the September year, 7538 of the 25,597 immigrants who arrived in New Zealand on study visas came from India, though that was 30% lower than the year earlier.

Mr Key was heckled on the deportation of Indian students as he opened Diwali festivities in Auckland earlier this month. He's expected to face questions on the issue from Indian media during his visit, which has been shortened due to technical issues with his aircraft that forced him to overnight in Australia, with the Mumbai leg of his visit scrapped.

Shares of Auckland Airport rose 0.8% to $6.875, and have gained 1% this year.

(BusinessDesk)