Stats NZ have revealed that in the month of November 2017, a record 360,100 visitors arrived in New Zealand, 33 percent more than in October 2017, signalling the start of the peak visitor season.

“Just over half of the November 2017 visitor arrivals were holidaymakers, and nearly one-quarter were visiting friends and relatives,” population statistics senior manager Peter Dolan said.

In relation, New Zealand’s total guest nights increased 4.8 percent to 3.1 million in October 2017 compared with October 2016, Stats NZ also announced.

“October was a busy month with guest nights increasing in 11 of the 12 regions, with over half of the national increase occurring in Canterbury, Otago, and the Bay of Plenty,” accommodation statistics manager Melissa McKenzie said. “The only exception to widespread increases in guest nights occurred in Auckland, where guest nights fell 6.3 percent from a high last October,” Ms McKenzie said.

New Zealand saw a net gain of 70,400 migrants in the year ended November 2017, with 131,500 migrant arrivals and 61,200 migrant departures, Stats NZ have revealed.

The annual net migration in November 2017 was at the same level as the November 2016 year, and continued the recent trend of reducing annual net migration levels since the peak of 72,400 in the July 2017 year.

Non-New Zealand citizen migrant arrivals contributed to most of the net migration.

“The slowing of annual net migration was driven by record non-New Zealand citizen migrant departures,” Mr Dolan said. “There were 27,800 in the November 2017 year, compared with 22,900 in the November 2016 year.”

Click here to view the Stats NZ website.

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