More Kiwis staying at home

The June migration stats came out yesterday. This graph shows the net PLT (permanent or long-term) migration of NZ citizens.

There is huge seasonal variation, so I have shown them year by year. Generally January has the highest net departures, and the number of net departures reduces every month during the year.

The net departures of citizens in 2009 are well down on 2007 and 2008. And it isn’t Kiwis returnign home, so much as Kiwis staying put.

If we take the April to June quarters, the no of Kiwis returning home was 4,302 in 2007, 4,503 in 2008 and 5,108 in 2009 – a small increase. While Kiwis departing was 14,414 in 2007, 15,685 in 2009 and 9,990 in 2009.

So while Kiwis returning home was up 600 in the quarter, Kiwis departing was done around 5,700.