Net migration stayed near record levels in November and the gain for the year ended November was a fresh record.
The government statistician said the nation gained a net 5000 people last month, just below the record set in October of 5200 and well above the previous record set in February 2003 of 4700.
The net gain of people in the year ended November was 49,800, up from the net 47,700 migrants in the year ended October.
An economist at ASB Bank, Jane Turner, said the relatively buoyant economy is a factor.
"It's another month of strong net-inflows and it is a continuation of the trends we've seen over the past year.
"Arrivals into New Zealand have also remained quite buoyant, again attracted by New Zealand's strong labour market," she said.
Meanwhile, Tourism Holdings lifted its first half profit forecast.
The company expects the first half period, ending this month, will be more than $5 million or $1 million more than forecast.
That brings the annual profit forecast to more than $17 million, compared with $16 million for the year ended in June.
Chief executive Grant Webster said there had been an early and strong start to the peak tourism season.
"So those last couple of weeks of November were very positive ... we are ahead of where we thought we'd be."