New Zealand annual net migration was provisionally estimated at 53,200 in the year ended February 2019, compared with 51,500 in the previous year, New Zealand's statistics department Stats NZ said on Wednesday.
"Increases for both migrant arrivals and migrant departures meant that there was a slight increase in net migration in the year ended February 2019," population indicators manager Tehseen Islam said.
"Annual net migration has fluctuated between 49,000 and 55,000 since the year ended October 2017."
Migrant arrivals are overseas residents, including New Zealand citizens, who cumulatively spend 12 of the next 16 months in New Zealand after arriving.
Migrant departures are New Zealand residents, including non-New Zealand citizens, who cumulatively spend 12 of the next 16 months out of New Zealand after departing.
