Statistics New Zealand figures released yesterday showed unadjusted annual net gain of migrants was 70,300 for October, surpassing the previous annual record of 70,000 in the September year.
Population statistics manager Jo-Anne Skinner said the record annual net gain was driven by the increase in migrant arrivals. At the same time, migrant departures dropped, adding to the high net gain.
Migrant arrivals numbered 126,100 in the October 2016 year, setting an annual record. Migrant departures were 55,800 in the period.
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said the country's reckless immigration policy continued to run amok with yet another record being set.
''We have tens of thousands of young New Zealanders who can't get a job, congested roads, a housing crisis, over-burdened hospitals and schools and yet the Government persists with a madcap policy that is not working in the best interests of all New Zealanders.''
The high level of low-skilled workers coming to New Zealand, including international students, had undermined working conditions and put a lid on wages, he said.
New Zealand First was not opposed to immigration but it believed in accepting migrants the country needed, not those who needed New Zealand.
It was clear the Government's only strategy for the 2017 election was to bloat the economy with consumption and perpetuate the myth consumption growth equalled real GDP per person growth, Mr Peters said.
''It doesn't, and as the one political party that understands that, we intend to blow their political strategy clean out of the water.''
