Arrivals fuel call to cut NZ immigration

Wellington, October 21

New Zealand witnessed a record net gain of 70,000 migrants in the year to September, the government statistics agency said on Friday, fuelling a row over the government’s immigration policy.

The figure for the September year exceeded the previous annual record of 69,100 migrants in the year to the end of August, Xinhua news agency cited Statistics New Zealand agency as saying.

“The annual net gain reflects record high migrant arrivals and fewer migrant departures,” population statistics manager Jo-Anne Skinner said in a statement.

“Most of the arrivals are people coming in with work visas, which also includes working holiday-makers.”

Migrant arrivals numbered 125,600 in the September year, setting a new annual record, with 32 per cent arriving on work visas, 20 per cent on student visas and 13 per cent on residence visas. — PTI