22 Jun 2012

Migration gain for NZ in May

11:17 am on 22 June 2012

More arrivals and fewer departures led to New Zealand posting a small migration gain in May.

Statistics New Zealand figures show long-term arrivals outnumbered departures last month, with a seasonally adjusted net gain of 160 people.

That compares with a net loss of 800 in April and a gain of 250 in March.

The agency says the number of migrants to Australia has fallen slightly from record highs, while migration to and from Christchurch has now returned to pre-earthquake levels.

Meanwhile visitor numbers held reasonably steady in May, compared with the same month in the previous year.