More people are applying. Number of accepted students are the same. In recent years there are actually more students from NZ being accepted for some schools.

You should take those published acceptance rates lightly as the ones for international/Kiwis are much lower. Since you are competing with other kiwi students you will find that each year it’s been more and more difficult as the quality of students who applies increases. Eg more duxes/head prefects of schools are applying.