-
Travellers wait in line - Source: Reuters -
Related
New Zealand had its highest annual migration gain in more than five years last year, according to new figures from Statistics New Zealand.
For the year to December 31 there was a net gain of 21,253 permanent and long term migrants. This is the highest since June 2004.
Statistics New Zealand says the reason for the increase is fewer departures which were down by 18,500, or 22%, compared with 2008.
Most of the permanent arrivals were from the United Kingdom, followed by India, China, the Phililppines and Fiji.
Those people leaving permanently for Austrlia numbered 18,000, down from the record set in 2008 of 35,400.
In the month of December there was a seasonally adjusted gain of
1,720 migrants compared with 580 in December 2008.
