A claim that nearly 60,000 Indian migrants arrive in New Zealand every year has been found to be misleading, with official figures showing that actual arrivals are substantially lower.
Billy Brown, a New Zealand First candidate for Rotorua, made the claim in a Facebook post published on October 5, arguing that the country was facing a mass migration problem. A graphic accompanying the post also stated that almost 60,000 Indian migrants had arrived in New Zealand in one year.
However, the figure refers to visas granted to Indian nationals rather than the number of people who entered the country. According to AAP FactCheck, 53,109 Indian citizens received work, student or residence visas in 2025, but this total does not represent unique individuals arriving in New Zealand.
The figures can count the same person more than once. An individual may receive a work visa and later obtain a residence visa in the same year. Others may be issued multiple work or student visas because of changes in employment or study arrangements. Some people receiving visas may already be living in New Zealand.
When asked to explain the claim, Brown said he had relied on data from Figure.NZ covering work, student and residence visas issued to Indian nationals.
Francis Collins, an international migration expert at the University of Auckland, said official migration statistics provided a more accurate picture. He explained that combining different visa categories could lead to people being counted twice or even three times.
Statistics New Zealand data showed that approximately 16,800 Indian citizens arrived in the country during the 12 months to July 2026. During the same period, around 5,300 Indian citizens departed, leaving a net migration gain of about 11,500.
Net migration measures the difference between arrivals and departures, providing a clearer indication of how much the population has increased through migration from a particular country.
The long-term figures also contradict the claim that nearly 60,000 Indian migrants arrive annually. AAP FactCheck reported that average annual arrivals from India were approximately 12,530 between 2002 and 2026, using figures measured from August to July.
Arrivals reached a peak in the year to July 2024, following the easing of COVID-19 border restrictions. During that period, 37,611 Indian citizens arrived and 3,965 departed, producing a net gain of 33,646.
Paul Spoonley, a migration expert at Massey University, also identified Statistics New Zealand’s figures as the most authoritative source for assessing migration levels. He noted that residence visa recipients may already appear in work visa statistics, making combined visa totals an unreliable measure of arrivals.
The latest migration figures available at the time of the fact-check were provisional. New Zealand uses a 12-month-in-16-months rule to determine whether a person qualifies as a migrant, meaning final migration figures take time to establish.
The findings highlight the importance of distinguishing between visas issued, people arriving and net migration when discussing immigration trends. Counting visa approvals as new arrivals can significantly overstate the number of people moving to a country.