Migrants flocking to earthquake struck city

A record number of immigrants moved to the Christchurch area last month, as workers arriving to take part in the rebuild of the largest city on New Zealand’s South Island began to arrive in droves.

According to figures from Statistics New Zealand, 636 people moved into the Greater Christchurch region in June – the largest number of monthly arrivals since SNZ started taking records in 1990. Since the beginning of 2013, just over 4,000 people have moved to the city – an average of approximately 25 a day.

Canterbury Cathedral NZ

Source: www.kiwihousesitters.co.nz

“I think people are also seeing the chance to be a part of something quite special in Christchurch,” said acting Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority Chief Executive Warwick Issacs. “We are seeing evidence of the rebuild picking up pace in the suburbs.”

“With the cost sharing agreement between the Crown and Christchurch City Council now in place, the design and planning for the central city’s anchor projects is also ramping up,” he added.

Download your FREE emigration guide to Australia and New Zealand >>

And it would appear that the number of newcomers arriving in and around the city is only likely to increase in the coming months, with NZ’s Immigration Minister, Michael Woodhouse, recently stating that “at least another 17,000 migrant workers are needed to rebuild the city.”

Last year, Immigration New Zealand introduced the Canterbury Skills Shortage List (CSSL) – a list designed to help overseas worker with skills included on it emigrate to the region.

Most occupations currently listed on the CSSL are related to the construction, engineering and trade industries.