Somewhat unsurprisingly, annual net migration of returning New Zealand citizens has exceeded that of non-New Zealand citizens for the first time since the late 1970s, according to Stats NZ.

In the year to January 2021, the overall net migration gain was 33,200, including 20,900 New Zealand citizens and 12,300 non-New Zealand citizens. Data shows that NZ citizens have been driving net migration gains since the country went into lockdown, in April 2020.

“There has not been a flood of returning ex-pats”

Stats NZ, 15 March 2021

However, Stats NZ pointed out there “there has not been a flood of returning ex-pats.” In fact, fewer New Zealand citizens came back home in the year ended January 2021 than in the previous year.

Overall, travel volumes remain low. From April 2020 to January 2021, there were 103,500 arrivals and 164,200 departures across the borders – compared to 5.9 million arrivals and 5.9 million departures in the same period the previous year.

The main source countries of the overseas resident arrivals were Australia, the UK, the US, China, India, and Canada.