Earlier holidays boost travel in March

New Zealand residents departed on 13 percent more overseas trips in March 2010 than in March 2009, Statistics New Zealand said today. Visitor arrivals were also higher than the previous March (up 7 percent). "The earlier timing of Easter and the school holidays, both in Australia and New Zealand, has resulted in more short-term travel to and from New Zealand in March 2010," Population Statistics manager Denise McGregor said. "Although these holidays did not start until 2 April, it is common to see increases in travel shortly before holiday periods begin."

Visitor arrivals from Australia were up 20 percent from March 2009, while there were more resident departures to Australia, Fiji, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

In the March 2010 year, there were 2.499 million visitor arrivals, 98,400 more than in the March 2009 year. Visitors from Australia were up 141,000 for the year, but this was partly offset by decreases in visitors from Japan, Korea, China, the United Kingdom, and South Africa. Short-term departures of New Zealand residents numbered 1.943 million in the March 2010 year, just above the previous year (1.942 million).

Net migration unchanged from February

On a seasonally adjusted basis, net permanent and long-term migration (arrivals minus departures) was 1,000 in March 2010. This net figure was the same as in February 2010, but down from an average of 1,900 between February 2009 and January 2010. On an unadjusted basis, there were 600 fewer arrivals of non-New Zealand citizens compared with March 2009. Departures of New Zealand citizens continued to decrease.

The annual net migration gain was 21,000 in the March 2010 year, down slightly from the recent peak of 22,600 in the January 2010 year. The January year figure was the highest net migration gain since the May 2004 year (24,000).

Net inflows of migrants in the March 2010 year were from the United Kingdom (8,400), India (5,600), and China (3,700). There was a net outflow of 14,900 people to Australia. "The annual net outflow to Australia has decreased substantially since the 35,400 recorded in the year ended January 2009," Mrs McGregor said.

Geoff Bascand 23 April 2010

Government Statistician