[karltsmith]

Net migration is now half what it was last year.

For the 12 months to August, there was a net gain of 19,300 immigrants into New Zealand.

This compares with over 41,000 at the same time last year.

It is the first time the figure has dipped below 20,000 since January 2002.

ANZ Chief Economist John McDermott says the decline is likely to continue in the next 12 months as New Zealanders again look for work overseas.

He says it is likely to settle around the ten thousand mark, which will have only a modest impact on the economy.


:nice1

[ruthyroo]

Karl / anyone - do you have any inkling if the immigration / PR rules are likely to change with the points level getting so low, and the number of people applying dropping too? I ask becuase we are here on 3 year work permits, planning to apply for PR when we can get round to it / can afford it. Our points are on 185. Basically, is there any reason for us to get off our bums and do something about PR now or can we take our time? Still got 2.5 years of WP to go, but I know from experience that NZIS can change their rules at very short notice!!

[Douglas]

Hi ruthyroo,

We've been discussing that very question on two pages here:

http://www.emigratenz.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=220&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start =30

[ruthyroo]

Cheers for that - though the numbers did make my head spin!! My reading of what is being said is that it won't stay at 100 forever, or even for much longer, but it's unlikely to shoot back to more than 185 (where we are just now) any time soon...? Unless of course they change the SMC rules and the points all change!!

Cheers Douglas

[Radders]

Even if the points system changes, with a score of 185, you must be ticking all the right boxes anyway. :nice1

[MelissaLG]

Hi Ruthyroo,

Here are my two cents on the PR thing, and this is just my opinion of course, so take from it whatever sounds right to you and forget the rest! If what is holding you back from applying for PR is finances, then obviously you will have to wait until you can afford to do it. But if you could afford to do it now, but are just hesitant to spend the money, I say do it now. While few people expect the points to go up past 185 the way things are now, who knows if policy will change or your circumstances will change such that you would not qualify down the road. Unlikely, probably. But possible, yes. Plus, NZIS takes so long to process PR that you might as well start as early as you possibly can. With 185 points, I would think you would be on the top of the current heap, whereas down the road who knows. I guess I have somewhat of a "better safe than sorry" outlook on this, so call me a pessimist, but if you are certain that you want PR eventually, you might as well do it now when you know you qualify.

Good luck!

Mel

[ruthyroo]

Cheers for the responses, they are very helpful. The high score is a combination of hubbie being on the POL and having a permanent job, outside Aukland etc and me having lots of letters after my name, so yes we are fortunate in that respect - but am aware that the rules on POL can change at fairly short notice. And yes, we have just about sorted out our finances i.e. have some floating cash to spend on applying for PR, it's just taken a while. Will make it a priority over the next few weeks!