British migration to NZ overtaken by Chinese

The ever-popular expat destination of New Zealand has for the first time on record seen the United Kingdom usurped from its place atop the family immigration table.

New Zealand’s Family Sponsored Stream and the Partnership policy are the mechanisms used for accepting new residents and China has now overtaken traditional source Britain as leader.

The Department of Labour yesterday released the Migration Trends and Outlook report which, in addition to showing the new family leader, suggested that adult migration – those aged twenty years or over – was also headed by Chinese nationals, only the second time this has happened. In 2009 the number of new residents aged twenty or more in New Zealand of Chinese origin was 6361 as compared to the UK figure of 6302.

The family-orientated Parent Sibling Adult Child Stream along with the Parent policy also saw China record the highest number of new expats under the programmes.

The new influx of Chinese to New Zealand is based on several obvious reasons; the country is politically neutral and was recently voted least corrupt nation on earth. The education system is of high quality, the health system adequate and family-wise there are few better places to raise young children. China’s one-child policy has also meant that many families are gravitating towards countries which promote family togetherness, with some immigration experts predicting that New Zealand could soon become the centre of gravity for Chinese nationals. This also extends to sponsorship and study programs which would allow larger families within China to send children to New Zealand for study and work-skill education.