The number of people arriving permanently or long term in this country exceeded the number of departures by 2500 in January, the highest net gain for a January month since 2004.
The increase was driven by 1700, or 30 percent, fewer permanent and long term (PLT) departures to Australia, compared to January 2009, Statistics New Zealand (SNZ) said.
PLT arrivals overall were down 400 from January 2009.
Seasonally adjusted, PLT arrivals exceeded departures by 2000 in January 2010, up from 1700 in December, and similar to the average of 1900 since February 2009.
In January 2010 there was a net inflow of 1100 migrants from Britain, with 400 each from India and China. The net outflow of 2100 migrants to Australia was the lowest for a January month since 2004, down from 4100 in both January 2008 and 2009, SNZ said.
The net migration gain for the year to January was 22,600, up from 4500 in the January 2009 year, and the highest annual net migration total since the May 2004 year.
The rise in the net figure was due to fewer departures, with the 64,400 PLT departures down 20,200 or 24 percent from the January 2009 year.
The 86,000 PLT arrivals in the same period was down 2200 or 2 percent from a year earlier.
