Migration is the movement of people from one country to another. People who leave their native land permanently are “immigrants”. The rate at which population size changes can be affected by migration. Since New Zealand has a small population which is only growing slowly, net migration can have a large impact on growth rates.

New Zealand is comparatively recently inhabited. The first immigrants were Maori from the Pacific. Since then there have been a number of waves of immigration.

People have come to New Zealand for many reasons: The Maori arrived from Polynesia in AD 900 – 1200 due to population pressure on resources in their homeland. In the C19th people came from Britain to escape the hardships of Victorian life. They wanted to own their own land and have a better quality of life. After WWII people came from Europe because New Zealand was prospering. After WWII many came to New Zealand as refugees e.g. Hungary 1956, Cambodia 1980, Ethiopia 1990, Afghanistan 2000. Many of these people were fleeing religious persecution. Many young Polynesians came to New Zealand in the 1960s and 1970s for employment and better education. In the last 15 years the Government has encouraged skilled migrants with capital from Asia. In 1997 China resumed control of Hong Kong, which led many Asians to want to leave and come to New Zealand. Recently people have moved from the UK and South Africa for employment and better quality of life. Now make a table sorting these into Push & Pull Factors!

Since 1987 immigrants have come from a range of countries. Since the 1990s there has also been return migration of expatriates. International terrorism and NZ’s strengthening economy are factors. What does this graph tell you?

Emigration is the long term movement of people out of a country. In the 1970s and 1980s emigration exceeded immigration. As a result population growth has slowed.

The Brain Drain is a steady emigration of skilled people. They tend to be better educated, seeking better wages. People leave NZ due to taxes, dissatisfaction with the government etc. Businesses are concerned about the Brain Drain. However, recently skilled migrants have balanced out the Brain Drain. Some demographers believe these expatriates will eventually return.

2046 population peak at 4.8 million is predicted. If rates remain steady the future of NZ’s population is less than 5 million. 2046 population peak at 4.8 million is predicted. Migration is an increasingly important factor in population change.