New Zealand's short-term visitor numbers were boosted during November, driven by a rise in the number of holidaymakers who said they were in the country visiting family and friends.
Latest figures from Statistics New Zealand show 230,300 overseas visitors were in New Zealand during November, up two per cent on the same time last year.
"The number of people arriving to visit friends and relatives was up 7000, compared with November 2010. In contrast, holiday arrivals were down 3400," Statistics New Zealand's population statistics manager Andrea Blackburn said.
There were more visitors from Australia, China and Malaysia, but fewer from Japan, Korea, the United States and the United Kingdom, SNZ said.
Meanwhile New Zelaand's seasonally adjusted net loss of migration continued during November, when departures exceeeded arrivals by less than 100 people.
Unadjusted figures show that 6500 Christchurch residents have moved overseas since the earthquake,
Since 22 February 2011, 3,700 migrants have moved to Christchurch from overseas compared with 4,800 during the same period last year.
- NZ HERALD ONLINE