The number of people crossing New Zealand’s border dropped in August 2021 with the pause of quarantine-free travel with Australia and the Cook Islands, Stats NZ has released.
There were 41,300 border crossings in August 2021, made up of 18,800 arrivals and 22,500 departures. Total border crossings were well down compared with the previous three months, when they averaged 171,000 each month.
“The drop in border crossings reflects the suspension of two-way quarantine-free travel with Australia, and one-way quarantine-free travel from New Zealand to the Cook Islands during August,” population indicators manager Tehseen Islam says.
Provisional data for September 2021 shows a further decrease in the number of border crossings.
Border crossings include all arrivals and departures, either for short-term trips or longer-term migration, by people living overseas or in New Zealand.
Cook Islands main destination for New Zealand-resident travellers
The Cook Islands was the main destination for New Zealand-resident travellers, with 8,500 arriving back in August 2021. Of these, 92 per cent returned from a holiday.
In total, 13,400 New Zealand-resident travellers arrived back from an overseas trip in August 2021. This was down 23,100 from July 2021, but up 10,100 from August 2020.
Of all New Zealand-resident travellers who stated a main destination on their return, 68 per cent came back from the Cook Islands, followed by Australia (eight per cent) and Japan (per cent).
“Arrivals included athletes and officials of the New Zealand team returning from the Tokyo Olympic Games,” Tehseen says.
Visitor arrivals led by Cook Islands
There were just 2700 overseas visitor arrivals in August 2021, down 27,500 from July 2021.
Of overseas visitor arrivals who specified their country of residence, 13 per cent arrived from the Cook Islands, followed by the United Kingdom (11 per cent) and Australia (11 per cent).
“This is the first time the Cook Islands has been the main source of visitor arrivals,” Tehseen says.
Overseas visitors can include New Zealand citizens, seasonal workers, and essential workers, among others.
Low net migration
Net migration was provisionally estimated at 2400 in the year ended August 2021 compared with 72,500 in the year ended August 2020, a drop of 70,100.
There was a net migration gain of 12,200 New Zealand citizens and a net migration loss of 9800 non-New Zealand citizens in the year ended August 2021.
