Record number of Aussies visit NZ

AUSTRALIAN visitors to New Zealand topped a million for the first time in the year to May, despite the global economy plunging into its worst downturn in decades.

Statistics New Zealand (SNZ) said the 1.002 million visitor arrivals from across the Tasman were up 35,500 - or 4 per cent - from a year earlier, and double the figure of a decade ago.

In contrast, the 2.42m visitor arrivals from all countries during the year were down 64,200, or 3 per cent, from the May 2008 year.

Annual visitor numbers were down from each of the five largest sources of visitors after Australia.

Numbers from Britain were down 27,300 or 9 per cent, from Korea they were down 25,500 or 28 per cent, from Japan down 22,100 or 19 per cent, from the United States down 21,200 or 10 per cent, and from China down 15,400 or 12 per cent.