Travel drops as bubbles pop

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 said today.

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 said.

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 percent 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 percent came back from the Cook Islands, followed by Australia (8 percent) and Japan (4 percent).

"Arrivals included athletes and officials of the New Zealand team returning from the Tokyo Olympic Games," Mr Islam said.

Visitor arrivals led by Cook Islands

There were just 2,700 overseas visitor arrivals in August 2021, down 27,500 from July 2021.

Of overseas visitor arrivals who specified their country of residence, 13 percent arrived from the Cook Islands, followed by the United Kingdom (11 percent) and Australia (11 percent).

"This is the first time the Cook Islands has been the main source of visitor arrivals," Mr Islam said.

Overseas visitors can include New Zealand citizens, seasonal workers, and essential workers, among others.

Low net migration

Net migration was provisionally estimated at 2,400 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 9,800 non-New Zealand citizens in the year ended August 2021.