The number of people wanting to live in New Zealand long-term continues to reach new highs.
The economy may be slowing, but it is not deterring migrants yet.
Photo: 123RF
Official figures show a net gain of more than 60,290 people in the year to August, the 13th successive month of record highs.
Immigration hit a record high of 117,866 people for the year, driven by New Zealanders returning from Australia and Indians arriving on student visas.
Prime Minister John Key said he thought immigration settings were about right, and the Auckland housing market would take care of itself.
Mr Key said Auckland was a desirable international city, and he expected its population to continue to grow for the next 20 years.
He said he saw the strong migration as a significant vote of confidence in New Zealand.
Current rates are almost double the number leaving for foreign shores, which stood at 57,576.
And fewer people are leaving the country too - a net of just 529 people left for Australia during the year, the smallest annual loss since 1991.
On a monthly basis, Statistics New Zealand said the country had a seasonally adjusted net gain of 5,500 migrants in August.
Photo: RNZ / Philippa Tolley
ASB Bank senior economist Chris Tennent-Brown said the economy remained an attractive lure for migrants.
"With the New Zealand economy, although we're worried about it cooling off somewhat, it's still looking pretty good compared to a lot of other economies - particularly Australia - and so it's hard to see these patterns turning around in the near term at least," Mr Tennent-Brown said.
Auckland continued to be the region of choice for immigrants, with 42 percent of all arrivals going there.
Record high net migration was expected to be one of the mainstays of the economy, partly offsetting the effects of lower dairy prices and a weaker global economy.
Separately, the number of visitor arrivals to New Zealand is also a record, up by 8 percent to just over 3 million for the year.
Meanwhile, New Zealanders took a record number of overseas trips in the August year, up 6 percent to 2.36 million, with half of them to Australia.
Prime Minister John Key said he thought immigration settings were about right, and the Auckland housing market would take care of itself.
Mr Key said Auckland was a desirable international city, and he expected its population to continue to grow for the next 20 years.
He said he saw the strong migration as a significant vote of confidence in New Zealand.
