Auckland gets bigger faster than rest of NZ

Photo / Supplied

Auckland is officially New Zealand's fastest-growing region.

Statistics New Zealand figures out yesterday show the region's population grew 1.6 per cent in the year to June 30, against the national average of 1.2 per cent.

New Zealand's population grew by 51,900 in the period to reach 4,367,700.

The growth resulted from a natural increase - more births than deaths - of 35,400 and a net permanent and long-term migration gain of 16,500.

Natural increase made the main contribution to the rise in the Auckland region's population, accounting for 69 per cent of the growth.

"Auckland region's population has a relatively young age structure, with high proportions in the childbearing ages," acting population statistics manager Kimberly Cullen said yesterday.

"This results in a high number of births and gives the region built-in momentum for future growth."

New Zealand continued to be a highly urbanised country, with 78 out of every 100 New Zealanders living in a main or secondary urban area.

Outside of Auckland, all other regions had population increases in the year to June.

Growth rates ranged from 0.4 per cent (West Coast) to 1.2 per cent (Waikato and Canterbury).

Of the country's 73 territorial authorities (cities and districts), 68 had population increases, compared with 64 in 2009 and 59 in 2008.

The Selwyn and Queenstown-Lakes districts had the highest growth rates (both up 2.5 per cent).

Other areas with high growth rates included Manukau City and Rodney District (both up 1.9 per cent), and Waitakere City (up 1.8 per cent).

More than half the population (54 per cent) lived in the four main urban areas - Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, and Christchurch - on June 30.

- NZPA