NZ saw net loss of 27,000 people to Australia last year - Stats NZ

New Zealand saw a net migration loss of 27,000 people to Australia last year, according to provisional data from Stats NZ.

According to population indicators manager Tehseen Islam, the net loss of people leaving New Zealand for Australia in 2023 was nearly double the 14,600 in 2022.

The net migration loss for 2023 was made up of 44,500 migrant departures across the ditch and 17,500 arrivals from Australia.

"However, it should be noted that this is below the record loss of 43,700 in the March 2012 year," Islam said.

He also said that "traditionally", New Zealand has seen net migration loss to Australia, averaging around 30,000 a year during 2004–2013 and 3,000 a year during 2014–2019.

"The annual record for migrant departures to Australia was 62,800 in the June 2012 year," Islam said.

According to the data, Kiwis heading to Australia were the "main driver" of trans-Tasman migration in 2023, “reflecting a long-standing historical pattern".

Last year, people with New Zealand passports made up 84% of the departures to Australia. They also made up 61% of those arriving from Australia.

Of the 69,900 New Zealand citizens who migrated out of the country last year, 53% went to Australia.

"Based on available data from 1979, this share has fluctuated between 41% in 1991 and 77% in 2012," Stats NZ said.

It also noted that since 2000 overseas-born New Zealand citizens had made up a "growing population" of Kiwis moving to Australia.

Of the New Zealand citizens who moved to Australia in 2023, 36% were born out of the country.

"This is slightly higher than the overseas-born share of New Zealand's population, which increased from 19.5% in 2001 to 27.4% in 2018," Stats NZ said.

Despite the loss caused by Kiwi's moving to Australia, New Zealand saw a provisional net migration gain of 155,800 from the rest of the world (excluding Australia) last year.

"This was a record for a calendar year and more than offset the net migration loss to Australia. Aside from Australia, Stats NZ has no data on the destination of migrants departing New Zealand."

Between 2004 and 2019, net migration from the rest of the world averaged 46,100 a year.

"Changes in migration are typically due to a combination of factors. These include relative economic and labour market conditions between New Zealand and the rest of the world, and immigration policy in New Zealand and other countries," Stats NZ explained.

Looking at migration in general, Stats NZ said New Zealand saw 138,600 migrant departures in the May 2024 year, which is provisionally "the highest on record for any annual period".

Data showed annual migrant arrivals provisionally peaked at 239,100 in the year ended October 2023.

"Annual net migration provisionally peaked in the year ended October 2023, with a gain of 136,600."

For migrant arrivals in May 2024, the largest group were citizens of India at 46,400. This was followed by citizens of the Philippines (28,600), New Zealand (25,500), China (23,500), Fiji (9800), South Africa (7000), Sri Lanka (6600), and the United Kingdom (6300).

For departures, the largest group was New Zealand citizens with 85,600 leaving. This was followed by citizens from China (7900), the UK (5700), Australia (5200), India (4300) and the United States (3500).

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