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.

Month-YearArrivalsDeparturesArrivals (provisional)Departures (provisional)
Apr-2020625631975
May-2020562210231
Jun-2020927014997
Jul-2020914018390
Aug-20201151514443
Sep-20201170015823
Oct-20201239213496
Nov-20201174113610
Dec-20201276617405
Jan-20211311913858
Feb-20211216013274
Mar-20211187814618
Apr-20214700338871
May-20219129998183
Jun-20218535090196
Jul-20217202775899
Aug-202118821225131882122513
Sep-202181977855

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.

Month-YearNZ-resident traveller – AustraliaNZ-resident traveller – Cook IslandsOverseas visitor arrival – AustraliaOverseas visitor arrival – Cook IslandsNZ-resident traveller – Australia (provisional)NZ-resident traveller – Cook Islands (provisional)Overseas visitor arrival – Australia (provisional)Overseas visitor arrival – Cook Islands (provisional)
Jan-20181190357903131072752
Feb-2018738544783123008960
Mar-20188966459821441761104
Apr-201810421084631098241088
May-201893434926390096800
Jun-2018954351038498784800
Jul-201811869612867121984848
Aug-201810505911745114432848
Sep-201810511111581123456928
Oct-2018138690115241124801136
Nov-201810514078671312451193
Dec-20188341959981939841618
Jan-201911875171581388851039
Feb-20197873740051242431037
Mar-20199685655971315871224
Apr-201911053980561308071226
May-2019955008214908481011
Jun-2019100397106771006481040
Jul-2019116547134471238741067
Aug-2019108034120051202351026
Sep-2019107825120551313611193
Oct-2019138187117431194981260
Nov-201910797781861296361223
Dec-20199813962491963661690
Jan-202012252875191433641046
Feb-20208064146241324591154
Mar-202064284473872156743
Apr-20207872366222
May-202083343105749
Jun-202077827132446
Jul-202083957125647
Aug-2020662851632103
Sep-202044725151162
Oct-202044631130185
Nov-202059924128539
Dec-202063040177477
Jan-202111351141061277
Feb-20219361381021441
Mar-20218561051222395
Apr-2021769917227717638
May-20212533046353576409
Jun-202122066430547032527
Jul-2021222601065825875748
Aug-202198484542523189848454252318
Sep-20216029010040

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.

/Stats NZ Public Release. View in full here.