Ben Chapman-Smith of the New Zealand Herald reported recently that Statistics New Zealand have released figures confirming that New Zealand has had its highest net gain in migrants for more than 10 years. Overall, New Zealand has had a net gain of 15,200 migrants over the last 12 months, compared with a net loss of 3,300 in the previous migration year. Somewhat unsurprisingly, the highest number of migrants were from the United Kingdom (6,000), and if the current trend continues, annual net migration will look to surpass 20,000 people by the end of this year.
There are various reasons for the reverse trend in net migration. These include Australia losing a lot of attraction to New Zealanders in relation to strained economic conditions and a difficult employment market, together with a relatively low unemployment rate in New Zealand (especially in regions such as Christchurch) that has created an international incentive to migrate to New Zealand.
Evidence of the net migration gain and the linkage to employment opportunities can clearly be seen in the statistics reported above in terms of the SMC Pool selections, where all applicants who are not able to claim a very high points total of 140 were required to hold a full time offer of or current skilled employment in New Zealand before being able to lodge an application for residence. Most of those positions are secured by migrants after travelling to New Zealand on visitor visas.
For further information or assistance with emigration please contact Mark Williams of Lane Neave Lawyers on + 64 3 3793 720 or email [email protected].
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