New Zealand's annual net migration has fallen by 8600 for the year to July 2018, down from a record high of 72,400 a year ago, Stats NZ said today.
The decrease was mainly driven by more non-New Zealand citizen migrants leaving the country, after being in New Zealand for at least a year.
"Even though annual net migration is lower than a year ago, it is still high by historical standards," population insights senior manager Brooke Theyers said.
Today's figures follow the Labour Government's pre-election pledge to cut immigration by 20,000-30,000 a year. Annual net migration in the year to July 2018 year was 63,800, down from the record high of 72,400.
Migrant arrivals were 129,000 and migrant departures were 65,200.
SOURCE: TV NZ
