Migrant arrivals hit record high in New Zealand

New Zealand welcomed a record number of immigrants in the year to the end of June, with numbers up 14 percent year on year to 100,800, the first time the figure had exceeded 100,000, the government statistics agency announced Monday.
The number of migrant departures was down 22 percent in the same period to 62,400, resulting in a net gain of 38,300, the highest annual gain since the 39,300 net gain in the October 2003 year, according to Statistics New Zealand.
The exodus to Australia had slowed significantly since a year earlier with a net loss across the Tasman of 8,300, compared with 31,200 a year ago, said a statement from the agency.
Net gains were recorded from most other countries, led by India (7,000), China (6,300), and Britain (5,500).
New Zealand recorded its highest-ever net gain of 42,500 migrants in the May 2003 year.
Last month saw the net gain of migrants at 4,300, the second- highest monthly net gain after 4,700 recorded in February 2003.