Population replacement: Nearly 64,000 citizens left while immigration kept the population growing
August 15, 2026
Summarised by Centrist
New Zealand recorded net migration growth during the year to June, but only because the arrival of non-citizens more than offset another large loss of New Zealand citizens.
The country gained a net 17,625 people from permanent and long-term migration, according to figures reported by Interest.co.nz. That was 71% higher than the previous year’s weak result.
However, 63,901 New Zealand citizens departed while just 26,183 returned. That produced a net citizen loss of 37,718.
The outflow has eased from the June 2024 peak, when 67,539 citizens left, and returning citizens increased by almost 19%. Even so, a net loss approaching 38,000 citizens in a single year is hardly a picture of strong domestic confidence.
Meanwhile, 104,497 non-citizens arrived and 49,156 departed, producing a net gain of 55,341.
The largest net gains came from India, China and the Philippines, followed by Sri Lanka, Nepal, the United States, Samoa and Australia. For people from the United Kingdom there was a small net loss.
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