New Zealand’s population sees highest gain since 2004

New Zealand, December 22: According to latest figures released by Statistics New Zealand yesterday, there has been a marked increase in the population of New Zealand since the year 2004 despite fewer migrants coming to the country.

The reason for this population increase is being attributed to a considerably less number of people (permanent long-term departures- PLT) leaving the country. 

As per the figures, nearly 20,000 net immigrants arrived in the country till November as compared to just about 3569 migrants in the year 2008. This is because there were 17,300 less long-term departures.

The net migration total is being regarded as the biggest since July 2004, revealed Dallas Welch, Acting Government Statistician. In 2004, nearly 20,600 net arrivals were registered. Meanwhile, the net arrivals in the year till November were counted at 20,021.

Hence, permanent departures declined by 21 percent in the year till November whereas the arrivals fell by 0.9 percent.

In October, nearly a total of 2140 migrants arrived as compared to 1780 migrants in the month of November.

Similarly, in Australia too, PLT departures were down by 1500 last month as compared to the last year’s figures while In UK, the PLT departures were down by 200. US arrivals declined by 11 percent while visitors from Japan and Korea were less by 24 percent and 36 percent respectively.

Also, there has been decline in the number of short-term tourists in New Zealand which is likely to put a curb on spending in an industry.

As per the Reserve Bank, a rise in housing demand is likely which will push the real estate prices significantly.

The largest number of arrivals of the migrants is from UK (9200), followed by India (5900) and China (3700). Fiji and Philippines contribute nearly 2400 migrants to New Zealand.