Monthly visitor arrivals boosted by the Rugby World Cup
Short-term overseas visitor arrivals to New Zealand in October 2011 (215,900) were up 17 percent from October 2010 (184,900). This increase was due to the Rugby World Cup (RWC), held in New Zealand between 9 September and 23 October 2011.
Visitor arrivals by country of residence
The biggest changes in visitor arrivals by country of residence between October 2010 and October 2011 were in arrivals from:
- Australia (up 17,200)
- South Africa (up 4,900)
- the United Kingdom (up 2,800)
- France (up 2,700)
- Malaysia (up 2,000)
- China (up 2,000)
- Singapore (up 1,800)
- Korea (down 1,800)
- Japan (down 2,400).
Australia, South Africa, the United Kingdom (which includes England and Wales), and France all had teams that made it at least as far as the quarter-finals of the RWC, which were held on 8 and 9 October 2011.
Arrivals from Malaysia, China, and Singapore have been boosted by new flights from Singapore (from March 2011), Guangzhou (from April 2011), and Kuala Lumpur (from April 2011). Arrivals from China have now increased in every month since May 2010, compared with the same month of the previous year.
Arrivals from Japan and Korea have been decreasing since the Christchurch earthquake on 22 February 2011. Visits from Japan were further affected after that country experienced its own devastating earthquake and tsunami in March 2011.
Visitor arrivals by travel purpose
The biggest changes in visitor arrivals by travel purpose between October 2010 and October 2011 were in arrivals for:
- holidays (up 23,900)
- visiting friends and relatives (up 4,200).
Rugby World Cup visitor arrivals
There were 53,200 RWC visitor arrivals in October 2011, accounting for almost one-quarter of all arrivals during the month. When these are added to the 80,000 RWC arrivals between July and September 2011, there was a total of 133,200 visits for the tournament.
RWC arrivals were identified from people who answered 'yes' to a question on arrival cards asking "Are you here for the Rugby World Cup?" A small proportion of arrival cards did not include this question, and any people arriving for the tournament who used these cards will not be included in the RWC figures.
Over 41 percent of the RWC arrivals were from Australia. The next most common source countries were the United Kingdom (which includes England, Scotland, and Wales), France, and South Africa.
| Rugby World Cup visitor arrivals |
| Country of residence |
October 2011 |
July–October 2011 |
| Australia |
26,500 |
55,200 |
| the United Kingdom |
6,300 |
19,100 |
| France |
2,800 |
11,100 |
| South Africa |
4,900 |
8,500 |
| the United States |
1,800 |
5,500 |
| Ireland |
900 |
4,300 |
| Argentina |
400 |
3,000 |
| Japan |
600 |
2,800 |
| Canada |
800 |
2,800 |
| Singapore |
1,100 |
2,000 |
| Hong Kong |
1,000 |
1,500 |
| Fiji |
300 |
1,400 |
Only 63 percent (34,900) of the RWC arrivals from Australia were Australian citizens. Another 11,800 were New Zealand citizens now living across the Tasman. There were also visits from 3,500 United Kingdom citizens, 2,300 Irish citizens, 900 South African citizens, and 500 French citizens now living in Australia.
Men accounted for 71 percent (94,400) of the RWC arrivals. The most common age groups of those arriving for the tournament were 25–29 years (16,800) and 30–34 years (16,100).
Annual visitor arrivals increase
There were 2.579 million visitor arrivals to New Zealand in the October 2011 year. This was up 3 percent from the October 2010 year (2.514 million). A number of major events have affected visitor arrivals in 2011, including the Canterbury earthquakes, flight disruptions due to volcanic ash, and the Rugby World Cup.
For more detailed data about visitor arrivals, see the Excel tables in the 'Downloads' box.
More trips by New Zealand residents in October
New Zealand residents departed on 4 percent more overseas trips in October 2011 (188,100) than in October 2010 (180,600). The main reason for the increase was the later timing of school holidays. School holidays usually start in September, but were moved to October in 2011 to coincide with the Rugby World Cup finals.
When overseas trips in September and October 2011 are combined – to account for the later school holidays – there was a decrease of 9 percent, compared with the same two months in 2010. This was because the decrease of 42,600 in September was only partly offset by the increase of 7,500 in October. The overall decrease in trips may have been because people stayed in New Zealand to watch the Rugby World Cup. The jump in overseas visitors because of the tournament may also have affected the availability of seats on international flights.
Overseas trips by country of main destination
The biggest changes in overseas trips by country of main destination (where the person will spend the most time when overseas) between October 2010 and October 2011 were in trips to:
- the United States (up 1,400)
- Indonesia (up 800)
- the United Kingdom (up 700)
- China (up 700).
In contrast, each of these countries experienced fewer visits in September 2011, compared with September 2010. This suggests the later school holidays in 2011 affected when people travelled to these destinations.
Annual trips by New Zealand residents up 3 percent
Short-term departures of New Zealand residents in the October 2011 year (2.066 million) were up 3 percent from the October 2010 year (2.002 million). Much of the increase came from trips to Asia (up 10 percent), boosted by new flights to Singapore, Guangzhou, and Kuala Lumpur. There were also more trips to the Cook Islands, the United States, and Fiji, but fewer to Japan following its devastating earthquake and tsunami in March 2011.
For more detailed data overseas trips by New Zealand residents, see the Excel tables in the 'Downloads' box.
Net loss of migrants continues in October
Seasonally adjusted permanent and long-term (PLT) migration figures showed a net loss (an excess of departures over arrivals) of 600 migrants in October 2011. Since the February 2011 earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand has had a net loss of migrants in all months except August 2011.
Unadjusted figures showed a net inflow of 800 migrants in October 2011, compared with 1,700 in October 2010. The main changes were:
- 600 more departures of New Zealand citizens to Australia
- 300 fewer arrivals of non-New Zealand citizens, including 400 fewer on student visas but 200 more on work visas
- 200 fewer arrivals of New Zealand citizens.
Migrants who arrived on student visas numbered 2,700 in the August to October 2011 months combined. The comparable figure between August and October 2009 was 2,600, but this increased to 3,700 in the same months of 2010. The changes were mainly driven by a rise then fall in the number of students arriving from India.
In October 2011, there were net gains of migrants from the United Kingdom (900), China (400), India (300), Germany, and Ireland (each 200). The net gain from India was half that recorded in October 2010 (600).
There was a net loss of 2,700 migrants to Australia, up from 1,900 in October 2010. The latest figure is the highest net loss recorded for an October month since 1988 (2,900).
Migration to and from Christchurch since the February earthquake
Five hundred Christchurch residents moved overseas in October 2011, up from 400 in October 2010. Since the devastating earthquake on 22 February 2011, there have been 6,000 departures from Christchurch, compared with 3,700 during the same period in 2010.
Four hundred migrants arrived from overseas to settle in Christchurch in October 2011, down from 600 in October 2010. Since the February earthquake, there have been 3,200 arrivals to Christchurch, compared with 4,300 during the same period in 2010.
First annual net loss of migrants since 2001
There were 84,300 PLT arrivals in the October 2011 year, up 2 percent from the October 2010 year. There were 84,400 PLT departures, up 20 percent from the previous year. This meant that there was a net loss of 100 migrants in the October 2011 year, the first annual net loss since the September 2001 year (1,700).
Net losses were recorded between the July 1998 year and the September 2001 year. The highest net loss during this period was 13,200 in the February 2001 year. The highest net loss recorded since the PLT migration series started, in April 1921, was 43,600 people in the July 1979 year. Net losses continued throughout most of the 1980s.
After the net loss in the September 2001 year, net migration rose substantially. New Zealand experienced a record net gain of 42,500 migrants in the May 2003 year. The most recent high was a net gain of 22,600 migrants in the January 2010 year. The net migration balance has steadily decreased since then.
New Zealand's net loss of migrants in the October 2011 year was due to a net loss of 35,000 people to Australia. This is only just below the highest recorded net loss to Australia (35,400 people in the December 2008 year). The October 2011 year figure resulted from 49,500 departures to Australia, offset by 14,500 arrivals from Australia. In both directions, most migrants were New Zealand citizens.
There were net gains of migrants from most other countries, led by the United Kingdom (5,700), India (5,100), and China (4,600) in the October 2011 year.
For more detailed data about permanent and long-term migration, see the Excel tables in the 'Downloads' box.