Chinanews, October 20. According to news compiled by the New Zealand Chinese Herald.com, New Zealand's local media interest.co.nz reported that the number of people holding work visas and student visas in New Zealand has been declining, with the former dropping by nearly 10% and the latter nearly 20%.

　　The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment is responsible for counting the number of different visa holders in New Zealand.

According to the Ministry's data, as of the end of September, there were 19,959 people in New Zealand holding work visas-compared with the peak of 221,205 in March, a decrease of 21,696 (a decrease of 9.8%), but still slightly higher than the 196995 in the same period last year.

　　Under normal circumstances, the number of work visa holders follows a seasonal trend, usually peaking in March, then slightly decreasing in April, May and June, stabilizing in July, and beginning to rise again in August.

The first half of this year is basically in line with previous trends.

However, the number of work permits did not rebound in August, but continued to decline in August and September.

　　Moreover, the number of work permit holders leaving New Zealand has dropped significantly from 13,362 in September last year to 4938 in September this year.

So in fact, the decline for work permit holders should have been even greater.

　　In addition, more people have converted work visas into residence visas.

In September last year, the number of people who transferred work permits to residence permits was 1,413, and this year increased to 2,187.

　　In September this year, 13,296 people renewed their work visas, which is unchanged from the same period last year.

　　Compared with work permits, the number of New Zealand study permit holders has dropped more, which is twice that of work permits.

　　Normally, the number of overseas students peaked in February, remained basically stable until October, then dropped sharply in November and December, and then rebounded again in January and February.

　　However, after peaking in February this year, the number of international students has been declining every month.

　　As of the end of September, the number of New Zealand holders of student visas was 67,863, a decrease of 15,018 (18%) from the peak in February, and 15,933 (19%) from the same period last year.

　　In September, New Zealand had 6,192 study permit holders renewed, 1,398 were converted to work permits, and 1,023 people left New Zealand.