The net gain of migrants arriving in New Zealand in the year to September 30 has set a new all time high, according to Statistics NZ.

A record 70,000 more migrants arrived in the country in the year to September 30, surpassing the previous annual record net gain of 69,100 migrants in the August 2016 year.

'The annual net gain reflects record high migrant arrivals and fewer migrant departures,” says population statistics manager Jo-Anne Skinner.

'Most of the arrivals are people coming in with work visas, which also includes working holidaymakers.”

According to the data, in total there were 125,600 migrant arrivals in the September 2016 year.

The distribution of migrant arrivals by most common visa type was work visas (32 per cent), New Zealand and Australian citizens (29 per cent), student visas (20 per cent), and residence visas (13 per cent).

While migrant departures were 55,700 during the same period, with New Zealand citizens contributing almost 60 per cent to all departures.

Seasonally adjusted figures showed a net gain of 6300 migrants in September 2016, surpassing the previous peak of 6200 in November 2015.

For more information visit the Statistics New Zealand website.