Migration pattern 'positive'

The long-term migration statistics are significant for the economy.

A reversal in migration trends, with more foreigners coming to live in New Zealand than Kiwis leaving, is backed by a Golden Bay immigration consultancy's experience.

Statistics New Zealand figures for April show that on a seasonally adjusted basis there were 2200 more long-term arrivals than departures.

In Takaka, Golden Sands Migration has experienced a 19 per cent increase since September in inquiries from people wanting to move to New Zealand, mainly from Britain.

It is also seeing an increase in the number it has helped move to New Zealand, from 28 in the first three months last year to 37 in the same period this year, with most going to Auckland because of employment opportunities.

Owner Glen Standing said the increase was because of the recession, with huge redundancies in Britain, but also because of education, with parents wanting to get their children out, and to enjoy New Zealand's lifestyle.

He said inquiries had definitely increased in the last six months, but many British people wanting to move here were struggling to sell their properties to finance their shift.

The trend had shifted from tradespeople wanting to move to professionals. Projects such as building for the 2012 London Olympics had soaked up skilled tradespeople, Mr Standing said.

He warned New Zealand businesses should be careful and not be in a rush to lay off staff they would need later. There were plenty of projects ranging from the $208 million Christchurch airport development to Rugby World Cup stadiums that would need staff, he said. "Employers should be thinking about growth and holding on to staff."

Statistics New Zealand's latest figures show for the year to April there was a net gain of 9200 people. This is below the long-term calendar year average of 11,400. But at the rate of turnaround in the figures this average figure is set to be well and truly surpassed this year.

 A big inflow of people means increased demand for housing and for services in theory giving a boost to the economy. The housing boom in the middle part of this decade was encouraged by large numbers of migrants flowing in. The surplus of arrivals over departures in the May 2003 year was 42,500.

Net migration was now "becoming a significant positive" Goldman Sachs JBWere's New Zealand strategist Bernard Doyle said.

"We are conscious that net migration was one of the key drivers behind the 2003-2007 economic upswing, and was particularly important for the construction sector.

"Accordingly the longer net migration persists around these levels, the more optimistic we become on prospects for the domestic economy."

The economic downturn is putting a lot of long-term migration plans on hold for Kiwis. In the recent past huge numbers of Kiwis have been jumping the ditch to live. But in April just 2827 left to live in Australia down 32 per cent on the number at the same time a year ago. In April the total number of Kiwis moving overseas was down 22 per cent on the same month a year ago at 1578.

While the number of Kiwis leaving is dropping sharply, the numbers of those coming in are still rising, albeit slowly. There were 5975 new immigrants last month, up 2 per cent on the figure in April 2008.

People from Britain still make up the largest percentage of immigrants from a single country. But the numbers from Asia are increasing at a faster rate. The largest individual group from the Asian countries in April was arrivals from India, which were up 38.5 per cent at 432.

 - with Fairfax

- © Fairfax NZ News