New Zealanders returning home to live remain a key source of immigration but Otago Chamber of Commerce chief executive Dougal McGowan is concerned Otago is not getting its ''fair share''.
Monthly net immigration was down slightly to 6010 compared with 6190 in November.
However, annual net migration was just below 70,600, up from 70,354 in November.
Mr McGowan believed most of the migrants coming to Otago were going straight to Queenstown or Wanaka, rather than Dunedin.
''While the numbers look good for Otago, it includes both those centres and a high percentage of migrants are moving there. Some will come to Dunedin because of education opportunities, but it is the other types of businesses who are missing out.''
High-wealth individuals had made it clear they regarded New Zealand as a haven from the current situation in the United States. Dunedin and Otago agencies needed to work together on a plan to attract those wealthy people to the region, he said.
Asked how that might happen, Mr McGowan said the chamber would continue to work with others to promote Dunedin as the hub of the region where businesses could be established to service the rest of the province.
An integrated plan was needed to demonstrate the benefits of basing businesses in Dunedin. When the Otago Daily Times pointed out those plans had been talked about for many years, Mr McGowan remained adamant it was possible to achieve a result.
''We know it's a good place to live but other people barely know we exist. We need to keep emphasising the benefits of Dunedin.
''We can start by talking to the Government about the importance of decentralisation.''
The decision to reduce Invermay and move some of the services to a hub at Lincoln was a case in point, he said.
A report by the Treasury had now raised more doubts the plan to slash more than 50 jobs from the Dunedin research institute. Those plans looked good at first sight, but the details showed a different result, Mr McGowan said.
The number of people leaving the region was also a concern for those wanting to grow the region. In December last year, 436 people arrived in Otago but 248 left. In the year ended September, 4688 people arrived and 2520 left.
Mr McGowan believed Otago had one of the highest percentages of people leaving the area after the West Coast.
ASB chief economist Nick Tuffley said although the national monthly gain of 6010 was down in December, it was still the fourth consecutive month above 6000 arrivals.
''Total arrivals were only just below 11,000 and held around the six-month average, indicating there is no sign yet of a slow down in those wanting to come to New Zealand.''
On the flip side, departures did move slightly higher from November but did not break any records.
Further out, Mr Tuffley expected annual departures to slowly increase as some of the students who arrived in the last few years ended their studies and returned home.
The composition of arrivals was changing. Those on work visas made up for a drop in the number of students arriving in the last few months. Only 7% of those entering New Zealand in December arrived on a student visa, the lowest entry rate since December 2013, although part of the fall was seasonal, he said.
Students were just 19% of all arrivals, just shy of a three-year low.
Declining student numbers could keep some downward pressure on departures numbers in subsequent years as fewer students coming in meant fewer students eventually leaving.
Those on work visas were also less likely than students to return home over the next few years. That could add to downward pressure on the departures number, limiting the pace at which net migration could slow.
