Surge in Christchurch residents leaving for Australia

File photo

Monthly net permanent migration to New Zealand was negative in March for the first month since November 2008 due to a jump in Christchurch residents leaving the quake-hit city, figures from Statistics New Zealand show.

Seasonally adjusted figures showed net 530 people left New Zealand to live permanently overseas as the number of people leaving Christchurch doubled from February to 1100 in March, Statistics New Zealand said.

Overall arrivals of permanent migrants had outnumbered departures by the same margin in February.

Australia was the most common destination for Christchurch residents, with 600 people leaving the city to go across the Tasman in March, up from 200 in February, Statistics New Zealand said.

Meanwhile, unadjusted numbers show a net 3584 people left New Zealand to live permanently in Australia in March, a record high for the month of March since 1981.

In March 4365 New Zealand citizens left to live permanently in Australia (141 per day) while 817 returned, giving a net 3548.

The 3584 total net migration referred to above includes non-citizens.

- INTEREST.CO.NZ