Supply shortage could increase

Both Auckland and Christchurch are struggling under housing supply shortages.

That will not have been helped by the fact that New Zealand had a seasonally adjusted net gain of 1700 migrants in May 2013.

That is the highest net gain since January 2010, when 1800 more people arrived than department.

The increase in net gain that has been seen over the past five months has been mainly due to fewer New Zealanders leaving for Australia.

The seasonally adjusted net loss of 1900 migrants to Australia in May 2013 was the smallest net loss since July 2010 and well down on the record high of 3600 in September 2011.

In the May 2013 year, New Zealand had a net gain of 6200 migrants. This compares with a net loss of 3700 in the May 2012 year.

Auckland, Canterbury, and Otago were the only regions that had net gains of international migrants.