The population gain from migration continued a bounce back last month from a low point in June, but was down on a year earlier as more people left long term for Australia.

Statistics New Zealand (SNZ) today said seasonally adjusted net permanent and long term migration was 1100 in September.

That was above the 900 in both July and August, after the net gain had fallen to 200 in June from 1800 in January.

The rebound from July to September was due to a recovery in the number of people arriving on a permanent and long term basis, while the number of seasonally adjusted departures had remained around 6100 since May, SNZ said.

Unadjusted, migration arrivals outnumbered departures by 2500 in September, down from 3100 a year earlier.

That change was due to 900 more departures, including an increase of 800 to Australia, while arrivals lifted by 300, including 200 more from India.

SNZ recorded net migration of 13,900 in the year to September, down from 17,000 a year earlier.

The 82,400 permanent and long term arrivals in the latest year were down 6 per cent from the September 2009 year, while the 68,500 departures were down 2 per cent.

(Source NZPA)