Figures released today by Statistics NZ show New Zealand had a net migration gain of 6,600 in the year to August 2005.

This is down 66 percent from the net gain of 19,300 in the same period last year.

Part of the reason for the fall was foreign arrivals were down 2,300 and departures were up 2,200. Also, 1,300 fewer New Zealand citizens returned to New Zealand and 6,900 more left the country than in the year to August 2004.

The biggest flow of migrants was from the UK, with an net flow to NZ of 9,200 peaple. This was down slightly on 9,500 the previous year.

Other major sources of migration gain for New Zealand were Fiji (2,300), India (2,000), Japan (1,700), Germany (1,200), South Africa (1,100) and China (1,100).