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New Zealand had a seasonally adjusted gain of 550 long-term and permanent migrants in January, Statistics New Zealand said on March 1.
The net migration gain compared with a gain of 1180 in December.
On an actual, unadjusted basis, arrivals exceeded departures by 1700, unchanged from a year earlier, the government agency said. There were 300 fewer permanent departures as well as 300 fewer permanent arrivals than in January 2005.
For the year ended January, there was a net gain in permanent and long-term migration of 6690, down 46 per cent on the net inflow of 12,810 people in the previous year ended December.
Net annual migration gains, previously a key driver of the strong domestic economy, have fallen since the peak of 42,500 in the year to May 2003, because of tighter immigration rules, a reduction in the number of foreign students studying in New Zealand, fewer New Zealanders returning home and more moving overseas.
In January 2006, there was a net inflow of 1600 from Britain, and 300 from Japan while there was a net outflow of 1200 to Australia.
