Monthly migration into New Zealand appears to have stabilised but at a very high level as Kiwis continue to return home from Australia. Statistics New Zealand figures out yesterday showed monthly net migration in March was 5000, with annual migration for the year ended March rising to 56,275.

Westpac senior economist Felix Delbruck said: ''The weak Australian economy is keeping New Zealanders at home and a surprisingly large number of Kiwis are coming back - perhaps some of these are people who left after the Canterbury earthquakes and are now returning''.

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