A flow of job seekers across the Tasman to Australia is limiting the economic impact of new migrants to this country.
Permanent and long-term (PLT) arrivals outnumbered departures by 300 in December, down from 1400 a year earlier, Statistics New Zealand said yesterday.
The main factor in the decline was the 2000departures by New Zealand citizens to Australia in December - up from 1100 a year earlier. On a seasonally adjusted basis, there was a net migration gain of 750 in December, up from 600 in November and above the monthly average of 700 since February.
ASB economist Jane Turner said arrival and departure numbers were showing signs of stabilising and she expected migration to remain relatively low but steady during the next year.
