Population growth from migration has hit another record high for the 20th month in a row, with a net gain 67,619 people from migration in the year to March.

Statistics NZ said the record gain in migration was driven by an increase in arrivals, with 124,100 people coming to this country on a permanent or long term basis in the year to March, up by 10,300 (9%) compared to the previous 12 month period.

New Zealand citizens returning to this country after an extended absence accounted for one quarter of those arrivals.

By comparison, 56,400 people left this country on a long term basis in the year to March which was down by 1100 (2%) compared to the previous 12 months.

The biggest source countries for people migrating to NZ, whether they were new migrants or returning NZ citizens, were Australia with 25,767 people arriving from that country in the 12 months to March, followed by India 13,486 which was almost level pegging with the UK 13,445, followed by China and Hong Kong 12,743, the Philippines 5476, the US 4326 and Germany 4033.

The biggest destination countries for people leaving this country on a long term basis were Australia 23,905, the UK 9775, the US 3247 and China and Hong Kong 2462.

The country providing the biggest net gain (arrivals minus departures) in migrants for the year to March was India, with arrivals from that country outnumbering departures by 12,264, followed by China and Hong Kong 10,282, The Philippines 5175, the UK 3670, France 3106, Germany 3063 and South Africa 2532.

This country had a loss of 3569 New Zealand citizens in the year to March and a gain of 71,188 citizens of other countries.

Auckland continues to be the main destination for new arrivals and its population would have increased by at least 31,230 due to migration n the year to March, although the actual increase is likely to have been much greater because another 15,501 migrants did not state which part of the country they intended to live in and many of those would also have settled in Auckland.

That could have pushed Auckland's population growth from migration up towards 40,000 in the year to March, increasing the region's housing shortage and putting further strain on infrastructure services such as transport.