02.02.201800:21:00UTC+00New Zealand Net Migration Falls In December

New Zealand's net migration declined in December from a year ago, figures from Statistics New Zealand showed Thursday.

In the year to December 31, net migration reached a new record high of 70,016, down from 70,588 in the same period of 2016.

Migrant arrivals numbered 131,600 and migrant departures totaled 61,600.

"Most migrants are non-New Zealand citizens," population statistics senior manager, Peter Dolan, said.

"While arrivals of non-New Zealand citizen migrants increased to 99,300 in the past 12 months, there was also an increase in those leaving the country after migrating here in the past."