Hawke's Bay population to rise faster than previous predictions

Napier and Hastings will get more crowded over the next few decades./File

The population of Hawke's Bay will increase more than previously thought over the next three decades, Statistics New Zealand says.

Population projections have been updated to reflect a recent rise in immigration and now predict a 0.3 per cent annual growth rate in the Hawke's Bay region.

In 2015, Statistics New Zealand predicted the region's population would increase by another 6100, but it has since revised the estimate and more than doubled the figure to 12,800.

"New Zealand has recently been experiencing record high levels of net migration, with more arrivals than departures," Statistics New Zealand spokesman Peter Dolan said.

"Our projections have been updated to reflect that."

The influx of 71,000 people to New Zealand in 2016 has pushed up the projected population figures for most regions.

The new statistics predict that the population of Hawke's Bay will rise until 2033, then slowly decline.

Growth will slow over much of the country, but the national population will be more than 5.9 million by 2043.

"Due to our population's changing age structure," Mr Dolan said, "population growth will slow in the long term."

The Central Hawke's Bay district is expected to lose 0.2 per cent of its population, or 600 people, by 2043.

The 2015 figures predicted the district would lose 1200 people over the same period, due to its ageing population.

Almost 35 per cent of the Central Hawke's Bay population will be over 65 by 2043.

In Hastings, the figure will be less than 30 per cent.

The population of Hastings is expected to grow by 0.4 per cent, or 9600 people, over 30 years.

Napier will also grow, with an extra 5700 people moving into the city.

Auckland, Canterbury and Waikato are expected to have the highest annual growth rates, with Auckland gaining an extra 833,000 people by 2043.

The West Coast has the lowest projected growth, with a decrease predicted for the South Island region of 0.2 per cent.

Population growth in all areas will slow after 2018, according to Statistics New Zealand.