Foreign students boost New Zealand's July net migration gain

July saw New Zealand's net migration rise to more than 5,000, the largest monthly gain since the same month a year earlier. Arrivals reached 13,900, a 19 percent increase compared with the previous year, while departures dropped to 8,700, down 7 percent, resulting in a net gain of roughly 5,200. Statistics New Zealand noted that nearly 40 percent of those arriving were on student visas, aligning with the commencement of the second semester.

For the year to July, net migration climbed to 20,300, composed of a net influx of 58,700 non-citizens against a net outflow of 38,300 citizens. The data also showed a 5 percent rise in arrivals and a 4 percent fall in departures over the year. Additionally, the agency highlighted a net loss of 28,400 migrants to Australia for the year ending December 2025.