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29 December 2009
New Zealand sees biggest boom in migrants since 2004
New figures released by Statistics New Zealand show that the country has seen the biggest jump in migrants since 2004.
New Zealand has gained more than net 20,000 permanent and long term (PLT) migrants during 2009 after a net 2,501 PLT migrants arrived during November, which brought the total net arrivals during the calendar year to the end of November to 19,882.
Most of these have migrated under the skilled migration category, which is core to the New Zealand Immigration strategy to boost the country’s skilled workforce with needed workers.
To be eligible for immigration with a New Zealand visa under this category applicants ned to be under the age of 56 years, meet health, character and English language requirements as well as meet the threshold of 100 points in the Points System.
The year to November 2009 had the highest permanent and long-term net migration since the year to July 2004.
Net migration figures are watched closely by the Reserve Bank and housing forecasters as it is an indication of housing demand, particularly as the economy can be boosted by demand which increases new building and construction.
The New Zealand Visa Bureau is an independent consulting company specialising in helping people with their New Zealand Visa applications to the New Zealand Embassy.
