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Statistics New Zealand has released its latest travel and migration data, detailing how many South African immigrants have arrived in the country in the last year.
The statistics body said that people’s ability to travel in 2020 has been limited due to travel restrictions and the Covid-19 border, along with capacity restrictions at quarantine and managed isolation facilities.
StatsNZ defines ‘migrant arrivals’ as resident abroad, including New Zealand citizens living abroad, cumulatively spending 12 of the next 16 months in New Zealand after arriving.
The classification of travelers as migrants is based on the time they spend in and out of New Zealand, not on what type of visa or passport they cross the border, and not on their responses on arrival cards.
Data from StatsNZ shows that annual net migration for the year ending September 2020 is tentatively estimated at 67,700, with 96% of the gain. happening in the six months from October 2019 to March 2020 in the run-up to travel and border restrictions.
“As the Covid-19 pandemic unfolded, many people who arrived in New Zealand in late 2019 and early 2020 have not yet returned abroad and are staying longer than usual,” said the indicator manager for population, Tehseen Islam.
“Annual net migration estimates tentatively peaked at nearly 95,000 in the year ending March 2020, however, since then, migration has declined due to travel and border restrictions.”
This means that the longer people stay in New Zealand, the more likely they are to be considered an arrival of migrants. Migration estimates could be revised up or down depending on whether these people are staying in New Zealand or returning abroad.
by migrant arrivals In September 2019/2020, New Zealand citizens were the largest group with 44,000 arrivals. The next largest groups were citizens of:
- India: 13,200;
- China: 8,500;
- South Africa: 7,100;
- United Kingdom: 6,600;
- Australia: 5,900;
- Philippines – 5,000.
It is not a reflection of permanent emigration
This figure of 7,100 is not an accurate representation of South African citizens who have permanently immigrated to New Zealand, especially as strict travel restrictions remain in place due to the pandemic.
Many visitors to New Zealand, traveling on a variety of visa types, have been unable to leave And estimates show that, as of November 6, 2020, there are still between 80,000 and 110,000 visitors in the country.
Their extended stay in New Zealand is currently contributing to the high estimates of migrant arrivals and net migration between the end of 2019 and March 2020.
However, New Zealand is historically a popular destination for migrating South Africans, typically behind only the UK and Australia.
South Africans choose to move to New Zealand for many reasons, not least because it is safe, child-friendly, and because of job opportunities.
Historically, these South Africans have entered the country on residence and work visas, however data shows that there has also been an increase in student visa arrivals in recent years.
Activities
“Travelers arriving in the country have identified themselves with a wide and diverse range of occupations, however, we do not know if these people will seek to join the New Zealand workforce,” Islam said.
From April 2020 to September 2020, the reported occupancy of overseas resident arrivals has included:
- Teachers (1,000);
- Engineering professionals (900);
- Miscellaneous workers, eg ship crews and workers in general (800);
- Midwifery and nursing professionals (600);
- Various specialized directors (600).
Roughly half (26,900) of all arrivals from April 2020 to September 2020 had an assigned occupancy.
Occupations were not assigned to students, retirees, children and individuals who did not provide an answer or whose answer could not be identified.
Auckland’s most popular destination
Just over two in five (approximately 13,000) overseas resident arrivals from April 2020 to September 2020 provided a postal address in the Auckland region. By comparison, just over one in three (around 1.7 million) of New Zealand’s population lives in Auckland.
“Most of the overseas residents are providing street directions in the North Island regions, particularly Auckland, however they may end up staying elsewhere during their stay in New Zealand,” Islam said.
Overseas resident arrivals have also provided addresses in other regions, including Canterbury (3,000), Wellington (3,000), Waikato (2,500) and the Bay of Plenty (2,100).
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