In
the year to the end of July, a record 72,400 more people arrived to live in New
Zealand than left. That represents an annual population increase of about
1.5%. Few would dispute that this has had a significant impact on house prices
in recent years.
There are essentially four
groups of immigrants: international students, those arriving here to work,
those arriving for family reunification, and kiwi's returning from overseas.
It's the latter that is having the most influence on the numbers.
Back in the year
to May 2012, 22,400 returned home, while 61,800 departed, leaving a net loss of
39,400. In the May 2016 year, the net annual loss had reduced to 3,500, as
30,700 New Zealanders arrived home and only 34,200 departed.
Those numbers reflect the fact that the grass is no longer greener on the other side of the Tasman. Australia is not as attractive as it was, particularly since the lure of making big money in the mining sector has disappeared.
Immigration flows are important because it affects housing demand and building. This was quantified in research by MOTU, which showed a strong correlation between high immigration and high house prices. They say a one percent increase in population from migration at the national level is associated with a 12.6 percent increase in house prices.
When they drilled down into the figures and looked at the effect different types of immigration had, they found the most significant effect was New Zealanders returning from overseas to live. This may be because they are likely to be more certain about where they want to settle, and are returning with cash in their pockets.
While MOTU's correlation between immigration and house prices seems on the high side, it nevertheless points to the influence the net immigration number has on house prices. This is something homeowners and investors in particular need to be mindful of - it's a significant risk factor. Should our economy slow down or should overseas markets like Australia regain their appeal as a place to work, then the net inflow that is driving house and rental prices higher, may well turn into a net outflow as it was between 1998 and 2001 and in 2012 at the peak of the Aussie mining boom (see graph).
Those numbers reflect the fact that the grass is no longer greener on the other side of the Tasman. Australia is not as attractive as it was, particularly since the lure of making big money in the mining sector has disappeared.
Immigration flows are important because it affects housing demand and building. This was quantified in research by MOTU, which showed a strong correlation between high immigration and high house prices. They say a one percent increase in population from migration at the national level is associated with a 12.6 percent increase in house prices.
When they drilled down into the figures and looked at the effect different types of immigration had, they found the most significant effect was New Zealanders returning from overseas to live. This may be because they are likely to be more certain about where they want to settle, and are returning with cash in their pockets.
While MOTU's correlation between immigration and house prices seems on the high side, it nevertheless points to the influence the net immigration number has on house prices. This is something homeowners and investors in particular need to be mindful of - it's a significant risk factor. Should our economy slow down or should overseas markets like Australia regain their appeal as a place to work, then the net inflow that is driving house and rental prices higher, may well turn into a net outflow as it was between 1998 and 2001 and in 2012 at the peak of the Aussie mining boom (see graph).
Clearly net migration
turned around in 2012 and has gained pace ever since. Most economic
commentators are expecting the New Zealand economy to remain strong relative to
our main trading partners, and few are picking a recovery in the Australian
mining sector anytime soon.
More of a risk is at a social and political level. In June UMR Research published a revealing survey about New Zealanders’ attitudes to immigration. Opinion was divided along political lines. Forty-three percent of National voters thought immigration makes New Zealand a better place, as did 41 percent of Labour voters, 55 percent of Green voters, but only 19 percent of NZ First voters. The main concerns were that our roading and housing infrastructure was not coping with the high numbers, with the greatest concern being the latter. When measured along party lines, 84 percent of NZ First voters said housing supply was not coping, as did 79 percent of the Greens supporters, 75 percent of Labour, and 59 percent of National supporters.
These concerns are reflected in the parties’ immigration policies. Immigration would stay at roughly its current level under ACT, the Maori Party and National. The numbers of immigrants coming into New Zealand would fall under Labour, the Greens, and NZ First, the latter having the most restrictive policy which would cut net migration to 10,000 people a year. Labour would reduce net migration by 20,000 to 30,000 people a year.
While external migration numbers are significant for property prices generally, and Auckland in particular, there is also significant influence from the internal migration - the movement of people within New Zealand. In general terms, there is a long-term shift to the top half of the North Island. Significant areas attracting residents include North Auckland, particularly around Albany and Orewa, west Auckland, Hamilton and the Bay of Plenty. All of these areas have experienced significant population growth and property value increases in recent years, which is expected to continue in the next 10 years.
Frank Newman writes a weekly article for Property Plus.
More of a risk is at a social and political level. In June UMR Research published a revealing survey about New Zealanders’ attitudes to immigration. Opinion was divided along political lines. Forty-three percent of National voters thought immigration makes New Zealand a better place, as did 41 percent of Labour voters, 55 percent of Green voters, but only 19 percent of NZ First voters. The main concerns were that our roading and housing infrastructure was not coping with the high numbers, with the greatest concern being the latter. When measured along party lines, 84 percent of NZ First voters said housing supply was not coping, as did 79 percent of the Greens supporters, 75 percent of Labour, and 59 percent of National supporters.
These concerns are reflected in the parties’ immigration policies. Immigration would stay at roughly its current level under ACT, the Maori Party and National. The numbers of immigrants coming into New Zealand would fall under Labour, the Greens, and NZ First, the latter having the most restrictive policy which would cut net migration to 10,000 people a year. Labour would reduce net migration by 20,000 to 30,000 people a year.
While external migration numbers are significant for property prices generally, and Auckland in particular, there is also significant influence from the internal migration - the movement of people within New Zealand. In general terms, there is a long-term shift to the top half of the North Island. Significant areas attracting residents include North Auckland, particularly around Albany and Orewa, west Auckland, Hamilton and the Bay of Plenty. All of these areas have experienced significant population growth and property value increases in recent years, which is expected to continue in the next 10 years.
Frank Newman writes a weekly article for Property Plus.
2 comments:
And the only one making it a priority of policy is Winston Peters but we all know the NZ electorate is too dumb to pick up on that and will go with the tweedledum or tweedledummer parties again.
Winston's decision will determine what sort of person he really is. If he is genuine about immigration he will demand that National climb down from the current 70,000 per annum to 30,000 p.a. or less in line with Labour. If he is genuine about the Maori seats he won't miss this last opportunity to get rid of them by joining up with National. The fact that Maoris traditionally vote labour means that National will gain by removing the Maori seats and it doesn't need a referendum to do this. The Maori Party has nothing to do with Maori seats Winston! The fact is that Maori now have 28 MPs when their numbers only warrant 18 MPs. Getting rid of those 6 Maori seats is the correct thing to do. I notice that 6 out of Winston's 9 MPs are Maori. I hope he is not a closet racist.
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