Title of Article in Title Case: Time period (if part of title)l
New Zealand’s International
Migration Statistics:
1860–1921
Part of the series: International Travel and Migration Articles
i
New Zealand’s International Migration Statistics: 1860–1921
This paper was prepared by the Population Statistics unit of Statistics New Zealand as
part of the series: International Travel and Migration Articles.
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statistical information available on our website, including Infoshare, contact the
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Citation
Statistics New Zealand (2010). New Zealand’s international migration statistics: 1860–1921 (International
Travel and Migration Articles). Wellington: Statistics New Zealand.
Published in April 2010 by
Statistics New Zealand
Tatauranga Aotearoa
Wellington, New Zealand
International Travel and Migration articles: ISSN 1178-3877 (online)
ii
New Zealand’s International Migration Statistics: 1860–1921
New Zealand’s International Migration Statistics: 1860–1921
Introduction
In April 2010, historical migration data was released into Infoshare, Statistics New Zealand’s free online
tool that provides time series data. Figures for the December years1860 to 1921 are included within two
tables in the International Travel and Migration subject category; net migration in the ‘Permanent & longterm totals’ table, and arrivals and departures in ‘Total passenger movements’. This article provides some
background to this data, including how it was collected and what it shows about migration to and from
New Zealand between the mid-19th and early 20th century. For more information on the historical
context of migration to New Zealand, visit the Te Ara Encyclopedia website.
Migration and population
A country’s population can increase through two means; the first is when births outnumber deaths (also
known as ‘natural increase’). The second is through positive net migration, when more people arrive in a
country than depart. Figure 1 outlines the contributions of both natural increase and net migration to New
Zealand’s population from 1860 to 2009. The graph illustrates the relative stability of natural increase’s
contribution, compared with the volatility of net migration, which varied from a net outflow of 41,800 in
1979 to inflows of 38,100 in 1874 and 38,200 in 2002.
Figure 1
50
(000)
Components of Population Growth
1860–2009
40
30
20
10
0
-10
-20
-30
-40
-50
1860 1870 1880 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000
Natural increase
Net migration
Where does migration data come from?
Before 1921, statistics on international arrivals and departures were compiled from statements sent
monthly to the Registrar-General by the Collectors of Customs in New Zealand’s provincial ports. These
statements showed the totals, by sex, of arrivals and departures, with limited information on birthplaces of
all arrivals and of ‘race alien’ departures. Race aliens were any people that were not of European descent.
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New Zealand’s International Migration Statistics: 1860–1921
Travel before April 1921 can not be classified by passenger type (short-term visitor, New Zealand
resident traveller, and permanent and long-term (PLT) migrant) as intended length of stay or absence
were not collected.
Passenger lists are another source of data from the early years of European settlement in New Zealand.
However, these gave limited information on migration. From 1840 to 1880, passenger lists referred
specifically to government-assisted immigrants, thus only counting around half the immigrants who
actually arrived in New Zealand at that time. Passenger lists were not collected in a systematic way until
after 1910 (Archives New Zealand, 2010).
Arrival and departure cards were introduced in April 1921, following a resolution of the British Empire
Statistical Conference of 1920. Under this new system, a card was given to each person arriving or
departing New Zealand. This card contained questions on age, occupation, marital status, and the
nationality of each traveller. Although the cards and questions have changed over the years, this is still the
method by which migration data is collected today.
An important feature of the new arrival card was that it noted whether the traveller was a new immigrant
intending permanent residence, a returned New Zealander, or a visitor on business or pleasure. For
departures, the card distinguished between those temporarily or permanently leaving New Zealand. As
the cards made it possible to differentiate between short-term travel and PLT migration on the basis of
intended duration of stay, it allowed the measurement of migration’s contribution to New Zealand’s
population change. Short-term travel includes all arrivals and departures where the stay or absence is
intended to be less than 12 months, while PLT migration is when the stay or absence is intended to be
for 12 months or longer.
When do official migration records begin?
It is thought that Polynesian migration to New Zealand began around 1300 AD, if not earlier. Although
Europeans sighted New Zealand in the 1640s, it is estimated that by 1839, only around 2,000 actually
lived in New Zealand, along with approximately 100,000 Mäori (Phillips, 2009). After the formation of
the New Zealand Company in 1838 and the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, the number of
European migrants increased rapidly. The New Zealand Company aimed to encourage migration from
1
Britain. By 1851, the European population in New Zealand was estimated at 26,700 , indicating that
New Zealand was becoming more popular as a destination country for migrants.
The first comprehensive attempt to collect and publish statistics on the whole of New Zealand was made
in 1853, the year that the Constitution of New Zealand was enacted. The Registrar-General of the time,
John Bennett, noted in the introduction to Statistics of New Zealand for 1853, 1854, 1855, and 1856
(Registrar-General, 1858) that:
“It was not, however, without considerable delay, and some embarrassing difficulties, that
the work could be brought out as it now appears, – incomplete in several particulars as it
confessedly is.”
Despite some information on migration to New Zealand appearing in this compendium, issues with data
quality prevented the data from being included in the official migration dataset. Data quality was
compromised by defective or missing returns from Canterbury and New Plymouth provinces (RegistrarGeneral, 1858).
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New Zealand’s International Migration Statistics: 1860–1921
Another source of information about the population of New Zealand and its migrants is the census.
Despite difficulties with collection, the Census of New Zealand held in 1858 showed that the European
1population of New Zealand had risen to 59,300 an increase of 122 percent from 1851 when the
European population was last counted. Forty percent (23,700) of the European population were born in
England, compared with 31.5 percent (18,700) who were born in New Zealand (Registrar-General,
1859).
What does the historical migration data tell us?
Despite not distinguishing between short-term travel and PLT migration, the historical data can be used to
estimate migration’s contribution to New Zealand’s population. Before the advent of air travel, it was likely
that people who travelled to New Zealand by ship generally intended staying for longer periods than
present day travellers, who have access to relatively cheap, frequent, and quick flights. Also, the numbers
of international arrivals and departures were significantly lower in the early days of European settlement.
International arrivals to New Zealand in the period 1860–99 averaged 18,200 per year, compared with
4.5 million international arrivals to New Zealand in 2009, of which only 86,400 (2 percent) were PLT
arrivals.
Migration data is a reflection of New Zealand’s history. It is closely related to the economic situation of the
times, with depressions often leading to more outward migration, while people are drawn to the country
in more stable times. The data also reflects the country’s changing political situation, with immigration
legislation impacting on migration flows.
1860–1880
Figure 2 shows arrivals and departures for the years 1860 to 1880. This time frame encompasses some
key events that impacted on New Zealand’s population growth.
During this period, the largest number of arrivals was in 1863 (45,700), which coincided with Otago’s
peak gold production of 17,400 kgs in the same year (Phillips, 2009). Many migrants came from
Australia intending to join the gold rush, the first of which occurred in 1861.
The second peak of arrivals as shown in figure 2 was in 1874, when 44,000 migrants arrived in New
Zealand. The driver for this influx of migrants was the introduction of free passages from the United
Kingdom in 1873. Many of these assisted immigrants settled in Otago, making Dunedin New Zealand’s
largest urban centre at the time, with around 39,000 residents in 1881. Arrivals did not reach the high
levels of 1863 and 1874 again until the 1900s.
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New Zealand’s International Migration Statistics: 1860–1921
Figure 2
Arrivals, Departures, and Net Migration
1860–1880
50
(000)
40
30
20
10
0
1860 1862 1864 1866 1868 1870 1872 1874 1876 1878 1880
Arrivals
Departures
Net
1881–1900
Departures outnumbered arrivals for the first time in 1888, due to an economic depression in New
Zealand (figure 3). The depression was caused by a slump in land and commodity prices. At the same
time, Melbourne experienced a boom in gold production, drawing people to Australia (Phillips, 2009).
Another factor impacting on the number of arrivals was the end of free passages from Britain to New
Zealand in 1880. By the 1890s, all forms of assisted immigration to New Zealand had ceased.
Figure 3
Arrivals, Departures, and Net Migration
1881–1900
30
(000)
20
10
0
-10
1881 1883 1885 1887 1889 1891 1893 1895 1897 1899
Arrivals
Departures
Net
Australia experienced an economic depression and high unemployment in the early 1890s (Battellino,
2010). In 1893, a banking crisis resulted in several Australian banks collapsing (Hickson and Turner,
2002). These events prompted more arrivals in New Zealand, with net migration reaching a peak of
10,400 in 1893. By the end of the 1890s, arrivals were stable at around 18,000 a year, while departures
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New Zealand’s International Migration Statistics: 1860–1921
numbered around 16,000. Net migration in the late 1890s was low, but positive, at around 2,000
migrants a year.
1901–21
Figure 4 shows arrivals and departures for the years 1901 to 1921. The beginning of the 20th century
saw both arrivals and departures increase as New Zealand’s economic condition improved. These rises
were partly attributable to a growth in the production and export of meat and butter, as refrigerated ships
opened up overseas markets. At the same time, droughts and depression hit Australia, reversing the
trans-Tasman flow of migrants (Phillips, 2009).
There were 39,200 arrivals in 1906 and 45,000 arrivals to New Zealand in 1908, following the 1904
reinstatement of assisted passage from the United Kingdom. Migration to and from New Zealand was
popular in the first decade of the new century, but dropped off considerably with the start of World War 1
in 1914.
The year 1918 saw the lowest number of arrivals (11,900) to New Zealand since 1882 (10,900).
Similarly, the number of departures (11,700) in 1918 was the lowest since 1884 (10,700). As well as
the end of World War 1, 1918 also saw a worldwide influenza epidemic, which resulted in almost 7,000
deaths in New Zealand alone (Statistics New Zealand, 2006). Despite the low numbers of migrants, net
migration remained positive, with a small net inflow of 200 people in 1918.
After the war, 1919 saw another increase in both arrivals (20,900) and departures (19,900). Some of
the arrivals (around 3,600) were the wives and children of New Zealand soldiers who had married
abroad during the war (Parliamentary Library, 2008).
Passenger movements continued rising in 1920, with 44,100 migrants arriving in New Zealand, and
32,900 departing. This was the year that the Immigration Restriction Amendment Act was enacted,
providing free entry into New Zealand for the British and Irish, while restricting the entry of other
nationalities. In 1921, net migration remained relatively high, at 13,300.
Figure 4
Arrivals, Departures, and Net Migration
1901–1921
50
(000)
40
30
20
10
0
1901 1903 1905 1907 1909 1911 1913 1915 1917 1919 1921
Arrivals
Departures
Net
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New Zealand’s International Migration Statistics: 1860–1921
In April 1921, arrival and departure cards were introduced, allowing more detailed analysis of migration
trends. The first full December year of data from the arrival and departure cards is 1922. An article
analysing net migration in New Zealand from 1922 to 2009 will be released in late 2010.
Data sources
International Travel and Migration dataset: December years 1860–2009 [Data file]. Wellington: Statistics
New Zealand.
Births and Deaths dataset: December years 1860–2009 [Data file]. Wellington: Statistics New Zealand.
References
Archives New Zealand (2010). Migration. Research Guide 4. Available from
http://archives.govt.nz/migration.
Battellino, R (2010). Mining booms and the Australian economy. Address to The Sydney Institute.
Available from www.rba.gov.au/speeches/2010/sp-dg-230210.html.
Hickson, C R, & Turner, J D (2002). Free banking gone awry: the Australian banking crisis of 1893.
Financial History Review 9:147–167. Cambridge University Press.
NZ Parliamentary Library (2008). Immigration chronology: selected events 1840–2008 (Parliamentary
Library Research Paper 2008/01). Wellington: NZ Parliamentary Library.
Phillips, J (updated 2009, August 13). History of immigration. Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New
Zealand. Available from www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/history-of-immigration.
Registrar-General (1858). Statistics of New Zealand for 1853, 1854, 1855, and 1856. Compiled from
official records. Auckland.
Registrar-General (1859). Statistics of New Zealand for 1858. Compiled from official records. Auckland.
Statistics New Zealand (2006). A history of survival in New Zealand: Cohort life tables, 1876–2004.
Available from www.stats.govt.nz/publications/populationstatistics/history-of-nz-survival.aspx.
Note:
1. Non- Mäori population, not including inhabitants of Stewart or Chatham Islands, and the military and
their families.
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