Migrant arrivals have continued to soar in the year to June 2023- but these gains are being offset as more Kiwis depart. 

Annual net migration rose again in the year to June to 86,000, a figure made up of a net gain of 121,600 non-New Zealand citizens and a net loss of 34,800 New Zealand citizens.

ASB senior economist Mark Smith says pent-up demand post-Covid is driving Kiwi departures, but the uptick in migrants adds to the nation's labour force.

"What we're really seeing now is a lot of people coming in. Numbers on work visas hit a record high in the June year of around 74,000 people- a lot more coming in are linked to the labour force."

LISTEN ABOVE