ZT: China overtakes UK as largest source of migrants

NewLynnHse

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11215331

China has overtaken the United Kingdom for the first time to become the largest source country for total permanent migrants to New Zealand.

The annual Migration Trends and Outlook report shows that Chinese nationals made up 15 per cent of the 38,961 people who were approved a resident visa in the 2012/13 year, ahead of the UK and India, both on 13 per cent.

China was where more than one in four international students came from and also had the "largest absolute increase" in visitor arrivals, up 47,000 or 29 per cent, to move up from third to top spot.

New Zealand enjoyed a 7,900 net migration gain, reversing a loss of 3,200 in the previous year - which was the first such loss since 2000/01.

The report was predicting that permanent and long-term net migration will exceed 30,000 from the middle of this year as the economy continues to grow.

Nearly one in five skilled migrants now come from India, ahead of the UK on 15 per cent, mainly due to an increase in international students becoming permanent residents.
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AUGUSTUS