Kiwis keep jumping the ditch
The number of people moving to Australia reached its highest level for an
April month in three years, as New Zealand recorded a net migration population loss last month.
The number of people moving to Australia reached its highest level for an April month in three years, as New Zealand recorded a net migration population loss last month.
Statistics New Zealand (SNZ) also said that since the February 22 earthquake 1000 more people had left Christchurch for another country on a permanent or long term (PLT) basis than had left a year earlier.
Over the same period, 300 fewer migrants had arrived to live in Christchurch.
In April, 800 Christchurch residents left permanently or for a long term, up from 400 a year earlier. PLT arrivals to the city fell to 400 from 500.
The seasonally adjusted net outflow of 100 migrants from this country in April was a partial recovery after 500 in March, which had followed a net inflow of 500 in February, SNZ said.
On an unadjusted basis, there were 1600 more PLT departures than arrivals last month, compared to 600 more in April 2010.
Last month's figure included departures of 1500 more New Zealand citizens to Australia.
For the year to April net migration was 5500, compared with 20,000 in the April 2010 year. The 83,500 PLT arrivals in the April 2011 year were just down from a year earlier, while the 77,900 departures were up 22 percent.
ASB economist Jane Turner said the continued migration outflow was not surprising in the wake of the earthquake, and she expected the trend to continue for most of the year.
Once reconstruction got under way a reversal was likely, particularly as rebuilding
attracted more workers from overseas. Some Cantabrians may also opt to return after a couple of years.
NZPA and NBR staff
Fri, 20 May 2011
Fri, 20 May 2011
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Kiwis keep jumping the ditch
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