International Travel and Migration: June 2016 Embargoed until 10:45am – 21 July 2016 Key facts In June 2016 compared with June 2015:   Visitor arrivals (196,200) were up 19,300. The biggest changes were in arrivals from: o Australia (up 4,300) o China (up 2,400) o the United States (up 2,200). Overseas trips by New Zealand residents (239,400) were up 18,600. The biggest changes were in departures to: o o o o Australia (up 6,700) China (up 1,500) Cook Islands (up 1,500) Viet Nam (up 1,400). In June 2016, seasonally adjusted figures showed a net gain of 5,700 migrants. See the commentary and tables for more information, including annual results. Liz MacPherson, Government Statistician ISSN 1179-0407 21 July 2016 Commentary        More holiday-makers drive visitor arrivals in June Annual visitor arrivals a record 3.31 million in June 2016 year Resident departures increase in June Annual trips by New Zealand residents reach 2.46 million Net gain of migrants steady in June Annual net gain of 69,100 migrants Upcoming system change More holiday-makers drive visitor arrivals in June Visitor arrivals numbered 196,200 in June 2016, a new June record, driven by a 21 percent increase (up 15,300) in holiday-makers from June 2015. Visitor arrivals were up 19,300 (11 percent) in June 2016 from June 2015. Visitor arrivals by country of residence The biggest changes in visitors by country of residence between June 2015 and 2016 were in arrivals from:    Australia (up 4,300 to 97,500) China (up 2,400 to 18,600) the United States (up 2,200 to 16,000). In June 2016, visitors arriving from Australia and China most commonly stayed in New Zealand for three days. 2 Visitor arrivals by travel purpose The biggest changes in visitors by travel purpose between June 2015 and 2016 were for:   holidays (up 15,300 to 89,800) visiting friends/relatives (up 5,400 to 60,200). Visitors from Australia, the United States, and China boosted holiday arrivals. Arrivals from Australia dominated the increase in visits to friends and family. Annual visitor arrivals a record 3.31 million in June 2016 year Visitor arrivals to New Zealand were a record 3.31 million in the June 2016 year. This was up 318,500 from the June 2015 year, an 11 percent increase. A 16 percent increase in holiday arrivals (up 235,100 to 1.70 million) was largely responsible. The biggest changes in visitor arrivals by country of residence between the June years were from:    China (up 83,600 to 396,900) Australia (up 79,800 to 1.37 million) the United States (up 24,200 to 257,500). Holiday-makers and visits to friends and relatives accounted for 81 percent (2.68 million) of the visitor arrivals in the June 2016 year. For more detailed data about visitor arrivals, see the Excel tables in the 'Downloads' box. Resident departures increase in June New Zealand-resident travellers departed on 239,400 overseas trips in June 2016, up 8 percent from June 2015. This new June record surpassed the previous record in June 2015 by 18,600 trips. 3 Overseas trips by country of main destination The biggest changes in overseas trips by country of main destination (where the person will spend the most time) between June 2015 and 2016 were to:     Australia (up 6,700 to 96,100) China (up 1,500 to 8,100) Cook Islands (up 1,500 to 10,100) Viet Nam (up 1,400 to 2,700). Visits to Viet Nam were boosted by the addition of direct flights to Ho Chi Minh city, which started in June 2016. Annual trips by New Zealand residents reach 2.46 million New Zealand residents departed on 2.46 million overseas trips in the June 2016 year. This was up 128,800 (6 percent) from the June 2015 year. The biggest changes in New Zealand-resident departures by country of main destination between the June years were in departures for:    Australia (up 30,400 to 1.15 million) Fiji (up 17,500 to 153,800) the United Kingdom (up 12,300 to 113,300). The most-common age for a New Zealand resident travelling to Australia in the June 2016 year was 54 years, while it was 49 years for all other countries combined. For more detailed data on overseas trips by New Zealand residents, see the Excel tables in the 'Downloads' box. Net gain of migrants steady in June Seasonally adjusted permanent and long-term (PLT) migration figures showed a net gain (more arrivals than departures) of 5,700 migrants in June 2016. Since reaching a peak of 6,200 in November 2015, the seasonally adjusted net gain in migrants has averaged 5,700 a month. While the monthly net gain of migrants is still positive and remains high relative to historic levels, recent net gains show a declining trend. The trend in migrant arrivals is declining slightly, while the departure trend remains steady. 4 There was a small seasonally adjusted net gain of 200 migrants from Australia in June 2016. This continued the regular net gains from Australia during the last year, broken only by a small net loss in April 2016. Annual net gain of 69,100 migrants Unadjusted figures showed a record net gain of 69,100 migrants in the June 2016 year. This is the 23rd month in a row that the annual net gain in migrants has set a new record. Before this period, the record was a net gain of 42,500 migrants in the year ended May 2003. The countries contributing the biggest net gains in migration in the June 2016 year were:     India (12,100) China (9,700) the Philippines (5,000) the United Kingdom (4,100). Net migration is calculated from PLT arrivals less PLT departures. The new record annual net gain in migrants in the June 2016 year was driven primarily by more arrivals. Migrant arrivals were a record 125,100 in the June 2016 year, up 9,400 (8 percent) from the June 2015 year. New Zealand citizens returning to live in New Zealand accounted for one-quarter (30,800) of all migrant arrivals. While New Zealand citizens still show a net loss, they are significant in determining the current record net gains in migration – because they dominate both migrant arrivals and departures. See the Kiwi factor in record net migration for context and detail around the New Zealand-citizen influence on net migration.(Note: the article uses data to May 2016 and does not include data from this release.) The increase in migrant arrivals between the June 2015 and June 2016 years was led by:   Australia (up 1,600 to 25,700) China (up 1,600 to 11,800) 5  South Africa (up 1,400 to 3,300). Migrant departures (56,000) fell slightly (down 1,400 or 2 percent) from the June 2015 year. The decrease was driven by a fall in departures to Australia (down 1,500) between the two June years, as fewer New Zealand citizens migrated there. This also led to a net gain of 1,900 migrants from Australia in the June 2016 year. June was the ninth consecutive month to show an annual net gain. The pattern of trans-Tasman migration has been volatile, driven chiefly by New Zealand citizens. See Kiwi exodus to Australia bungees back for a historical perspective on trans-Tasman migration flows and recent net gains from Australia. PLT migrant arrivals by visa type The biggest changes in migrant arrivals by visa type between the June years were:    work visas (up 3,900 to 39,100) student visas (up 1,700 to 27,500) New Zealand and Australian citizens (up 1,600 to 36,400). People arriving on work visas mostly came from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Australia. The most-common occupations of migrants arriving on work visas in the latest year (for those who specified their occupation on the arrival card) were hospitality workers, food trade workers, and engineering professionals. People arriving on work visas include working holidaymakers. People arriving on student visas mostly came from India, China, and the Philippines. PLT migration by New Zealand region All regions had a net gain of international migrants in the June 2016 year, led by Auckland (31,800) and Canterbury (7,000). The next-biggest net gains were in Wellington, Waikato, and Bay of Plenty. 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 PLT migration, see the Excel tables in the 'Downloads' box. Upcoming system change International travel and migration data will soon be processed using a new, upgraded processing system, starting with August data (to be released in September). More detailed information will be available on 19 August 2016, with International Travel and Migration: July 2016. 6 Definitions See International Travel and Migration concepts – DataInfo+ for definitions of terms used in this release. 7 Related links     Next release Past releases Data quality Related information Next release International Travel and Migration: July 2016 will be released on 19 August 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. Data quality International Travel and Migration – DataInfo+ General methodology used to produce international travel and migration statistics. International Travel and Migration concepts – DataInfo+ Definitions of terms used in this release. Principles and protocols for producers of Tier 1 statistics Statistics in this release are 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. Related information International travel and migration articles are occasional publications that provide analyses of selected topics. 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. 8 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 Statistics NZ's Migration web page lists migration-related data sources, such as the Longitudinal Immigration Survey (2005–09). Migration trends provides information from the Labour and Immigration Research Centre, part of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, which 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. Copyright and terms of use Includes our copyright, attribution, and liability statements. 9 Data quality See International Travel and Migration – DataInfo+ for the general methodology used to produce international travel and migration statistics. 10 Contacts For media enquiries contact: Melissa McKenzie Christchurch 03 964 8700 Email: info@stats.govt.nz For technical information contact: Pubudu Senanayake Christchurch 03 964 8700 Email: info@stats.govt.nz For general enquiries contact our Information Centre: Phone: 0508 525 525 (toll-free in New Zealand) +64 4 931 4600 (outside New Zealand) Email: info@stats.govt.nz Subscription service: Subscribe to information releases, including this one, by completing the online subscription form. Correction notifications: Subscribe to receive an email if a correction notice is published for International Travel and Migration. Unsubscribe to correction notifications for International Travel and Migration. Subscribe to all to receive an email if a correction notice is published for any of our information releases. Unsubscribe to all if you change your mind. 11 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: July 2016 will be released on 19 August 2016. 12