Fewer visitors to New Zealand in February
Embargoed until 10:45am – 21 March 2012
There were fewer visitors to New Zealand in February 2012, Statistics New Zealand said today. Overseas
visitor arrivals numbered 259,100, down 3 percent from February 2011.
"Visitor arrivals decreased despite February having an extra day this year," Population Statistics manager
Andrea Blackburn said. "The decrease was partly due to the Chinese New Year holiday period being in
January in 2012 as opposed to February in 2011."
Fewer visitors arrived from Hong Kong and China in February 2012 because of the earlier Chinese New
Year. There were also fewer visitors from the United Kingdom and Japan. More visitors arrived from
Australia due to an increase in visits by Australia-based New Zealand citizens.
Visitor arrivals in the February 2012 year numbered 2.594 million, up 2 percent from 2011. The
largest annual increases in arrivals were from Australia, China, and Malaysia.
New Zealand residents took 116,400 overseas trips in February 2012, up 12 percent from February 2011.
There were more trips to Australia (up 6,900) and the United States (up 1,300). In the February 2012
year, New Zealand residents took 2.117 million overseas trips, up 4 percent from 2011.
Net loss of migrants continues
New Zealand's seasonally adjusted net loss of migrants continued in February 2012, when departures
exceeded arrivals by 400 people. Net losses have been recorded in 11 of the 12 months since the
February 2011 earthquake in Christchurch.
Unadjusted figures showed 1,200 more departures of New Zealand citizens compared with February
2011, including 1,000 more to Australia. There were also 300 more arrivals of non-New Zealand citizens
on work permits.
New Zealand had a net loss of 4,100 migrants in the February 2012 year. This is the largest net loss
since the August 2001 year (4,400). In the February 2012 year, there was a net loss of 39,100 people to
Australia, the highest ever recorded. There were 53,000 departures to Australia (also a record), offset by
13,900 arrivals from Australia. In both directions, most migrants were New Zealand citizens.
There were net gains of migrants from most other countries, led by the United Kingdom (5,300), India
(5,000), and China (4,800) in the February 2012 year.
Auckland was the only region with a net gain of international migrants (5,400) in the February 2012 year.
The largest net loss was from Canterbury (3,700), which included a net loss of 2,900 from earthquake-hit
Christchurch. This compares with a net gain of 900 migrants to Christchurch in the February 2011 year.
Geoff Bascand
Government Statistician
21 March 2012
END
For media enquiries contact:
Nicholas Thomson
Christchurch 03 964 8700
Email: [email protected]