International Travel and Migration: January 2016
Embargoed until 10:45am – 25 February 2016

Key facts
In January 2016 compared with January 2015:
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Visitor arrivals (343,400) were up 41,000. The biggest changes were in arrivals from:
o China (up 15,200)
o the United States (up 4,400)
o the United Kingdom (up 3,600)
o Australia (up 3,300)
o Korea (up 2,600)
Overseas trips by New Zealand residents (145,700) were up 11,900. The biggest changes were in
departures to:
o
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Australia (up 3,000)
China (up 2,400)

In January 2016, seasonally adjusted figures showed a net gain of 6,100 migrants.

See the commentary and tables for more information, including annual results.
Liz MacPherson, Government Statistician
ISSN 1179-0407
25 February 2016

 Commentary
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Chinese New Year helps drive highest visitor arrivals for a January month
Annual visitor arrivals reach record 3.17 million
More New Zealand resident departures to Australia and China
Record-breaking run for annual New Zealand resident departures continues
Net gain of 6,100 migrants in January 2016
Annual net gain of migrants continues to rise

Chinese New Year helps drive highest visitor arrivals for a
January month
Overseas visitor arrivals to New Zealand numbered 343,400 in January 2016, the highest in
a January month. They were up 41,000 (14 percent) from January 2015.

Visitor arrivals by country of residence
The biggest changes in visitors by country of residence between January 2015 and 2016 were
in arrivals from:
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China (up 15,200 to 40,800)
the United States (up 4,400 to 29,000)
the United Kingdom (up 3,600 to 35,200)
Australia (up 3,300 to 122,600).

Visitors arriving from China were the highest for a January month, up 59 percent from January
2015. Most of the increase was over the last week of January, in the lead-up to the Chinese New
Year – a popular time for travel. This year, Chinese New Year occurred in early February,
compared with mid-February last year.

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 Visitor arrivals by travel purpose
The biggest changes in visitors by travel purpose between January 2015 and 2016 were in
arrivals for:
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holidays (up 32,600 to 195,000)
visiting friends and relatives (up 6,900 to 98,100).

More holiday arrivals from China (up 12,800) helped drive a 20 percent increase in
holidaymakers. An increase in holidaymakers was also seen from Australia, the United
States, Korea, the United Kingdom, and Germany.
The change in visits to friends and relatives was driven by an increase in arrivals from China (up
1,400), the United Kingdom (up 1,100), the United States (up 1,100), and Australia (up 1,000).

Annual visitor arrivals reach record 3.17 million
Visitor arrivals to New Zealand numbered 3.17 million in the January 2016 year, the highest-ever
annual total. This was 11 percent higher than in the January 2015 year (up 305,600).
The biggest changes in visitors by country of residence between the years ended January 2015
and 2016 were in arrivals from:
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China (up 110,700 to 371,100)
Australia (up 72,500 to 1.33 million)
the United States (up 26,000 to 247,500).

Half of visitor arrivals in the January 2016 year were in New Zealand on holiday (1.60 million
arrivals). Visiting friends and relatives (958,400) accounted for 30 percent of all visitor arrivals.
For more detailed data about visitor arrivals, see the Excel tables in the 'Downloads' box.

More New Zealand resident departures to Australia and China
New Zealand-resident travellers departed on 145,700 overseas trips in January 2016, up 9
percent from January 2015. This was the highest number of departures for a January month.

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 Overseas trips by country of main destination
The biggest changes in overseas trips by country of main destination (where the person will
spend most time) between January 2015 and 2016 were in trips to:
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Australia (up 3,000 to 70,400)
China (up 2,400 to 7,400)
Cook Islands (up 1,000 to 4,400).

Holidaying was the reason for 41 percent of the overseas trips by New Zealand residents
in January 2016, while visiting friends and relatives was the reason for 39 percent of trips, and 12
percent for business trips.

Record-breaking run for annual New Zealand resident departures
continues
New Zealand residents departed on 2.42 million overseas trips in the January 2016 year, the
highest-ever annual total. This was up 141,300 (6 percent) from the January 2015 year.
The biggest changes in New Zealand resident departures by country of main destination
between the years ended January 2015 and 2016 were in departures for:
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Australia (up 47,400 to 1.14 million)
Fiji (up 15,100 to 146,600)
China (up 12,600 to 88,400)
the United Kingdom (up 10,100 to 112,100).
the United States (up 10,000 to 176,500)

The number of annual trips by New Zealand residents to Australia in the January 2016 year was
the highest-ever, up 4 percent from the January 2015 year.
For more detailed data on overseas trips by New Zealand residents, see the Excel tables in the
'Downloads' box.

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 Net gain of 6,100 migrants in January 2016
Seasonally adjusted permanent and long-term (PLT) migration figures showed a net gain (more
arrivals than departures) of 6,100 migrants in January 2016, slightly higher than the average
number of migrants per month in the last six months (5,900).
January 2016 had a seasonally adjusted net gain of 300 migrants from Australia, the 10th month
in a row to show a net gain. Before April 2015, the last net gain in migrants from Australia had
been over 20 years ago (in June 1991).

Annual net gain of migrants continues to rise
Unadjusted figures showed a record net gain of 65,900 migrants in the January 2016 year. The
annual gain in migrants has set new records for the last 18 months. Before the August 2014
year (43,500), the highest annual net gain in migrants was 42,500 in the May 2003 year.
The increase in net gain of migrants in the January 2016 year was driven by migrant arrivals.
Migrant arrivals (123,000) continued to reach new highs, up 10 percent from the January
2015 year. In comparison, migrant departures (57,100) were down just 1 percent.

PLT migration by country of residence
The increase in migrant arrivals between the two January years was led by:
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India (up 2,200 to 14,200)
Australia (up 2,000 to 25,700)
China (up 1,400 to 11,300)
the Philippines (up 1,400 to 5,400).

The increase in arrivals from Australia was for both New Zealand citizens and non-New Zealand
citizens. The median age of migrants arriving from Australia was 28 years, compared with 25
years for all other migrant arrivals.

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 The fall in migrant departures was due to fewer New Zealanders leaving for Australia.
Departures of New Zealanders to Australia fell by 2,100 (8 percent) in the January 2016 year (to
24,400). This was partly offset by 1,200 more departures to the United Kingdom (up 14 percent).
Annual net gains from Australia continued to increase, reaching 1,300 migrants in the January
2016 year and breaking past the 1,000 mark for the first time since the October 1991 year. This
is the fourth month in a row to show an annual net gain of migrants from Australia.
New Zealand also recorded net gains of migrants from most other countries in the January 2016
year, led by:
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India (13,000)
China (9,100)
the Philippines (5,100)
the United Kingdom (3,700).

PLT migrant arrivals by visa type
The biggest changes in migrant arrivals by visa type between the January 2015 and 2016
years were:
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work visas (up 4,400 to 38,200)
student visas (up 4,000 to 27,900)
New Zealand and Australian citizens (up 2,000 to 36,200).

Migrants arriving on work visas in the January 2016 year made up 31 percent of all arrivals.
These were mostly from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Australia. Arrivals on work
visas increased 13 percent from the January 2015 year. Arrivals on work visas include working
holidaymakers.
Most student arrivals were from India (10,600), up 17 percent from the January 2015
year. China (5,500) and the Philippines (2,200) were the next largest sources of student arrivals.
Migrants arriving on resident visas numbered 14,100. Most migrants gain New Zealand
residence after, rather than before, arrival. Many arrive on temporary visas (eg work, student)
and transfer to a residence visa after spending time in New Zealand.

PLT migration by New Zealand region
All regions had a net gain of international migrants in the January 2016 year, led by Auckland
(30,400) and Canterbury (6,900). The next-biggest net gains of migrants were in Waikato
(2,600), Wellington (2,500), and Bay of Plenty (2,200).
The Auckland region saw 51,800 migrant arrivals in the January 2016 year, up 12 percent from
the previous year. Just over half of all arrivals who stated an address on their arrival
card indicated they would reside in Auckland. Of those who stated an address on their departure
card, 42 percent were migrating from the Auckland region. In comparison, the Auckland region is
home to 34 percent of New Zealand's population (at 30 June 2015).
For more detailed data about permanent and long-term migration, see the Excel tables in the
'Downloads' box.

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 Definitions
About the international travel and migration statistics
International travel and migration statistics count passengers arriving into and departing from
New Zealand. Passengers are split into one of three passenger types: overseas visitors, New
Zealand-resident travellers, and permanent and long-term migrants.
Arrivals and departures of overseas visitors and New Zealand-resident travellers are key
indicators of tourism and travel. Permanent and long-term migration is a component of New
Zealand’s population change, along with births and deaths. Migration affects the composition of
the population as well as population size.

More definitions
Citizenship: determined from the country that issued the passport the person uses when
arriving or departing. A person may hold passports from more than one country.
Country of main destination: the country where a New Zealand-resident traveller will spend the
most time while overseas. Departure cards do not ask travellers which other countries they
intend to visit on the same trip.
Country of residence: the country where the person last lived or will next live for 12 months or
more.
Migrant: see Permanent and long-term arrivals and departures.
New Zealand region: the area in New Zealand containing the residential or contact
address stated on a passenger's arrival or departure card. Regional council areas are
approximated by grouping territorial authority (city and district council) areas. Where a territorial
authority area is split across regional council areas, it is fully included in the region that most of
its population lives in.
New Zealand-resident travellers: people who live in New Zealand and are travelling overseas
for less than 12 months.
Overseas visitors: people who live overseas and are visiting New Zealand for less than 12
months.
Passenger type: each passenger is classed as an overseas visitor, a New Zealand-resident
traveller, or a permanent and long-term migrant. Passenger type is not related to legal
permanent residence in a country or the visa type a person holds. It is based on the time spent in
and out of New Zealand. This is primarily determined from responses on the arrival and
departure cards to questions about how long the person is in or away from New Zealand, and
where they are living for 12 months or more.
Permanent and long-term arrivals (migrant arrivals): people from overseas arriving to live in
New Zealand for 12 months or more (including permanently), and New Zealanders returning
after an absence of 12 months or more overseas.

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 Permanent and long-term departures (migrant departures): New Zealanders departing for an
absence of 12 months or more (including permanently), and migrants leaving after a stay of 12
months or more in New Zealand.
Travel purpose: the main purpose for the visit to New Zealand or trip overseas. Categories are
holiday, visiting friends and relatives, business, conferences and conventions, education, and
other.
Visa type: the type of immigration visa held or granted on arrival in New Zealand. People may
change their visa type later while still in New Zealand.

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 Related links
Next release
International Travel and Migration: February 2016 will be released on 21 March 2016.
Subscribe to information releases, including this one, by completing the online subscription
form. You can also subscribe to receive International Visitor Arrivals to New Zealand, and
our weekly provisional international travel statistics.
The release calendar lists all information releases by date of release.

Past releases
International Travel and Migration has links to past releases.

Related information
Information about international travel
International Visitor Arrivals to New Zealand contains detailed tables about the number and
characteristics of visitor arrivals. It is released two working days after each International Travel
and Migration information release.
Provisional international travel statistics provide the latest weekly and four-weekly figures for
visitor arrivals and New Zealand-resident traveller departures, including figures for 10 major
source and destination countries. These are released weekly, usually at 2pm on a Friday.
International travel and migration articles are occasional publications that provide analyses of
selected topics.
Statistics NZ's Tourism web page lists tourism-related data sources, such as the Accommodation
Survey and the Tourism Satellite Account.
Tourism research and data from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment includes
results from the International Visitor Survey, Domestic Travel Survey, and tourism forecasts.
Tourism New Zealand provides guides to New Zealand's key tourism markets, which include the
outlook for future months.
Cruise New Zealand data has figures on cruise ship visits and cruise passengers. This includes
passengers considered to be 'in transit' by the Immigration Act 2009, who are not included in
international travel and migration statistics.

Information about international migration
International travel and migration articles are occasional publications that provide analyses of
selected topics.

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 Statistics NZ's Migration web page lists migration-related data sources, such as the Longitudinal
Immigration Survey.
Labour and Immigration Research Centre, part of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and
Employment, publishes research reports and information about the immigration research
programme.
Immigration New Zealand statistics include application and approval numbers for the
main immigration visa types.

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 Data quality
General information
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Data source
Accuracy of the data
Interpreting the data
Timing of published data
Confidentiality
More information

General information
Data source
International travel and migration statistics are based on electronic arrival and departure records
for each international passenger, supplied to Statistics NZ by the New Zealand Customs Service.
These electronic records include flight and passport details, such as date of travel, date of birth,
sex, and country of citizenship.
The New Zealand Customs Service also supplies Statistics NZ with arrival and departure cards
completed by passengers. Statistics NZ captures additional detail such as country of residence
and travel purpose from these cards, and adds it to the information from electronic records.
Immigration New Zealand owns the arrival and departure cards, which are used to administer
numerous New Zealand laws in addition to producing statistics. Statistics NZ only captures
information from the cards for statistical purposes, and passes the cards to Immigration New
Zealand after it has captured the data.
See the arrival card (PDF, 84kb). See the departure card. These are for reference only.

Accuracy of the data
Data collection
Statistics NZ scans every arrival and departure card, and uses image recognition technology to
automatically recognise and code responses. Processing staff then manually capture any
required information not captured automatically – as automated software cannot clearly
recognise every response.
The imaging system automatically determines all of the information required for around 9 in
every 10 cards, meaning about 1 million records are completed manually each year.
Some response fields are required from every card. These include passport number and birth
date, which are used to match each card with the corresponding electronic record containing
flight and passport details. Some fields are only required for certain passenger types, or for a
sample of passengers.

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 Changes in recorded passenger intentions
Statistics NZ processes all arrivals and departures and allocates them to one of three passenger
types: overseas visitors, New Zealand-resident travellers, and permanent and long-term
migrants.
A person may change their intentions after their arrival or departure, which may mean the
recorded passenger type becomes incorrect. Statistics NZ does not revise published statistics for
such changes, but advises that the published figures remain a good indicator of trends in
permanent and long-term migration.
The Alternative methods for measuring permanent and long-term migration article has more
detail about the effect of intention changes.
Sampling
Some fields are only collected for a sample of passengers. Data from the sample is used
to estimate the characteristics of the full population. This still provides a good picture of the
characteristics of travellers, while greatly decreasing the time and cost of capturing the data.
All figures for permanent and long-term migrants are actual counts (not derived from a sample).
Arrival and departure totals for overseas visitors and New Zealand-resident travellers are also
actual counts. More detailed data for overseas visitors and New Zealand-resident travellers, such
as figures by country or travel purpose, are derived from a sample.
The sample ratios currently used are:
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overseas visitor arrivals: 1 in 16
overseas visitor departures: 1 in 26
New Zealand-resident traveller arrivals: 1 in 26
New Zealand-resident traveller departures: 1 in 20.

Figures derived from a sample may contain sample error (a difference from the actual figure).
Small numbers are more likely to contain a large sample error as a percentage of the actual
figure, and should be used with caution.
Seasonally adjusted and trend series
The purpose of seasonally adjusting a time series is to measure and remove the varying
seasonal components in the series (for example, there are more visitor arrivals during the New
Zealand summer, due to the warmer weather and longer daylight hours). This makes the data for
adjacent periods more comparable.
The seasonal adjustment process for international travel and migration statistics uses Statistics
NZ's standard seasonal adjustment package, X-13ARIMA-SEATS, with enhancements that
allow Statistics NZ to specify and adjust additional calendar effects. These include the number
and type of trading days in the month (as more people generally arrive and depart on Friday,
Saturday, and Sunday), and holiday periods, which have important effects on travel but can
occur in different months each year (eg Easter can be in March or April).
Both monthly and quarterly seasonally adjusted series are available. The quarterly series are
adjusted independently of the adjustments made to the monthly series. Hence, quarterly figures
may not equal the sum of monthly seasonally adjusted figures.

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 Seasonally adjusted and trend data back to January 1996 is subject to revision each period. The
size of these revisions is expected to be minimal, with the largest revisions occurring in the
periods immediately before the current month or quarter. Data before January 1996 is not
revised. This cut-off is used because of the change to a four-term school year in 1996, which
resulted in changes to the seasonal patterns of the New Zealand-resident traveller series.

Interpreting the data
Passenger counts
The statistics in this release relate to the number of passenger movements to and from New
Zealand, rather than to the number of people – that is, the multiple movements of individual
people during a given reference period are each counted separately. For example, a New
Zealand resident making five business trips overseas within a year would be counted as five
arrivals and five departures.

Timing of published data
Final international travel and migration statistics: released approximately three weeks after
the end of the reference month. This delay is longer for December and January data due to the
peak travel period coinciding with the Christmas and New Year holidays.
New Zealand and overseas port data: becomes available two working days after the
international travel and migration release.
Provisional international travel statistics: normally released at 2pm every Friday on
the Provisional international travel statistics web page. These show the latest weekly and fourweekly figures for visitor arrivals and New Zealand-resident traveller departures, including figures
for 10 major source and destination countries. No further data is available until the monthly
release of final statistics.

Confidentiality
Statistics NZ releases statistics derived from arriving and departing passenger records. It does
not release the records of individual passengers.

More information
International travel and migration in DataInfo+ has more information. DataInfo+ is the main
source of information about our statistical activities and data.
Statistics in this release have been produced in accordance with the Official Statistics System
principles and protocols for producers of Tier 1 statistics for quality. They conform to the
Statistics NZ Methodological Standard for Reporting of Data Quality.

Liability
While all care and diligence has been used in processing, analysing, and extracting data and
information in this publication, Statistics NZ gives no warranty it is error-free and will not be liable
for any loss or damage suffered by the use directly, or indirectly, of the information in this
publication.

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 Timing
Our information releases are delivered electronically by third parties. Delivery may be delayed by
circumstances outside our control. Statistics NZ does not accept responsibility for any such
delay.

Crown copyright©

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. You are
free to copy, distribute, and adapt the work, as long as you attribute the work to Statistics NZ and
abide by the other licence terms. Please note you may not use any departmental or
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Emblems, and Names Protection Act 1981. Use the wording 'Statistics New Zealand' in your
attribution, not the Statistics NZ logo.

14

 Contacts
For media enquiries contact:
Melissa McKenzie
Christchurch 03 964 8700
Email: info@stats.govt.nz
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Email: info@stats.govt.nz
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15

 Tables
See the following Excel tables in the ‘Downloads’ box on this page. If you have problems viewing
the files, see opening files and PDFs.
1. International travel and migration, by direction and passenger type, actual counts
2. International travel and migration, by direction and passenger type, seasonally adjusted
and trend series
3. Overseas visitor arrivals, by country of last permanent residence
4. Overseas visitor arrivals, by travel purpose and country of last permanent residence
5. New Zealand-resident traveller departures, by country of main destination
6. Permanent and long-term arrivals, by country of last permanent residence
7. Permanent and long-term departures, by country of next permanent residence
8. Net permanent and long-term migration, by country of last/next permanent residence
9. Permanent and long-term migration, by citizenship, actual counts
10. Permanent and long-term migration, by citizenship, seasonally adjusted series
11. Permanent and long-term migration, by New Zealand region
12. Permanent and long-term arrivals, by visa type and country of last permanent residence

Access more data on Infoshare
Infoshare allows you to organise data in the way that best meets your needs. You can view the
resulting tables onscreen or download them.
Use Infoshare
For this release, select the following categories from the Infoshare homepage:
Subject category: Tourism
Group: International Travel and Migration

Next release
International Travel and Migration: February 2016 will be released on 21 March 2016.

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