Average mum now over 30

The average age of women giving birth in New Zealand is now above 30.

Latest figures from Statistics New Zealand, for the year to March, show the average age of women giving birth is now between 30 and 34.

In 1996, the average was in the 25 to 29 age group.

The births of 28,590 girls and 29,850 boys were registered in the year.

Over the same period there were 27,430 deaths registered, of which 13,810 were females and 13,620 males, equating to approximately two births for every death.

The natural increase of the population - the excess of births over deaths - was 31,010.

According to the latest national population projections, natural increase is projected to decline in the future, reaching about zero in 2041. From 2042, deaths are expected to outnumber births by an increasing margin.

New Zealand's total fertility rate has been relatively stable over the last 20 years, averaging 2.0 births per woman.

This figure is below the level required by a population to replace itself in the long term without migration (2.1 births per woman).

The lowest ever infant mortality rate was also recorded.

The latest statistics showed the infant mortality rate -- deaths of children under one year per 1000 live births -- was 4.8 -- the lowest recorded in New Zealand in any year.

The mortality rate in 1996 was 6.5.

- NZPA