Strong Kiwi dollar cuts both ways
The strength of the New Zealand dollar saw a record number of Kiwis pack their bags and head overseas for holidays in July.
The number of Kiwis heading on an overseas trip rose to a record 231,600 in July, up from 207,992 in the same month last year, according to Statistics New Zealand.
The kiwi dollar however cut both ways, with visitor arrivals falling 3.7 percent to 176,084 in the month compared to July last year.
July arrivals from China (up 20.6 percent), Singapore (up 17.3 percent) and Malaysia (up 74.0 percent) continued a strong run of growth.
However this was not enough to offset falls from the UK (down 11.9 percent), US (down 12.7 percent), Japan (down 32.6 percent), Korea (down 17.2 percent) and Germany (down 7.2 percent).
Arrivals from Australia fell 3.3 percent but were stronger in the second half of the month.
Tourism New Zealand chief Kevin Bowler said initiatives such as the recent improvements Immigration New Zealand has made to the Chinese travel visa application process, should help boost the number of Chinese visitors even further.
Unadjusted figures showed 800 residents of earthquake-hit Christchurch left to live overseas in the month, up from 500 at the same time last year.
Ian Jarrett
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