Fewer visitors in April due to earlier holidays

Visitor arrivals to New Zealand were down 4 percent in April 2010, when compared with April 2009, Statistics New Zealand said today.

"The earlier timing of Easter, and school holidays in some Australian states, contributed to more visits in March but fewer in April this year," Population Statistics manager Denise McGregor said. Although these holidays started on 2 April, many people travel shortly before holiday periods begin. In March and April 2010 combined, visitor arrivals were 2 percent above the same months of 2009.

There were more visitors from Korea, but fewer from the United Kingdom, the United States, and Germany in April 2010, compared with April 2009. "Most of the decrease in visitors from both the United Kingdom and Germany occurred in the first half of April, before the volcanic eruption in Iceland disrupted air travel in Europe," Mrs McGregor said.

New Zealand residents departed on 163,000 overseas trips in April 2010, about the same as in April 2009. This follows an increase of 13 percent in March, helped by the earlier timing of Easter and the school holidays. The earlier holidays contributed to fewer trips to Australia and the United Kingdom compared with April 2009. The disruption caused by the volcanic eruption in Iceland also contributed to the decrease in trips to the United Kingdom.

Net migration at its lowest since December 2008

On a seasonally adjusted basis, net permanent and long-term migration (arrivals minus departures) was 800 in April 2010, the lowest monthly figure since December 2008 (500). This series had averaged 1,900 between February 2009 and January 2010. On an unadjusted basis, there were 700 fewer arrivals and 300 more departures of non-New Zealand citizens compared with April 2009. There was little change in arrivals and departures of New Zealand citizens.

The annual net migration gain was 20,000 in the April 2010 year, down slightly from the recent peak of 22,600 in the January 2010 year. "The latest figure resulted from a net inflow of 32,400 non-New Zealand citizens and a net outflow of 12,500 New Zealand citizens," said Mrs McGregor. "The net outflow of New Zealand citizens was the lowest for an April year since 1995."