Geoff Bascand: Super City should be built by the numbers

Auckland has a relatively young population, and has two-thirds of New Zealand's Pacific and Asian populations. Photo / Supplied

There has been lots of commentary locally and nationally about the impact of the Super City. Time will tell, but Auckland is big and different from other parts of the country in many ways.

Auckland has a more diverse, fast growing and younger population than New Zealand in general.

At last count, the Auckland region's population was 1.4 million. It has been averaging 2 per cent annual population growth since 2000, compared to 0.9 per cent for the rest of New Zealand.

Statistics New Zealand projects that by 2031 the Auckland region will be home to 38 per cent of New Zealand's population, or 2 million people.

Despite having about a third of New Zealand's population, Auckland has two-thirds of New Zealand's Pacific and Asian populations. Partly related to its ethnic make-up, Auckland has a relatively young population. This will become even starker by 2031, when 17 per cent of Auckland's population will be aged over 65, compared with 23 per cent for the rest of the country.

Auckland's workforce is as you'd expect for its size: it has nearly a third of New Zealand's total working-age population and more than 30 per cent of New Zealand's businesses are located in the region. Its workforce also differs in type.

Half the national workforce employed in our wholesale trade industry is Auckland-based. But only 6 per cent of New Zealand's agricultural, forestry and fishing businesses are located in the region. And only 26 per cent of New Zealand's local and central government workforce is based in Auckland.

Being from Wellington, I am hardly impartial about whether Wellington or Auckland can lay claim to the "creative capital" title.

But statistics show both can. Auckland has the lion's share of television and commercial work, while "Wellywood" has the majority of the feature film work.

In June, working Aucklanders' weekly median earnings were $800, compared with $767 for New Zealanders overall. Aucklanders' weekly median earnings increased by $14 over the past year while the total for New Zealanders increased by $11.

The latest Consumers Price Index figures, released yesterday, show that Auckland households faced price increases of 1.6 per cent over the past year, compared to 1.5 per cent for the country as a whole. Over the past year, Aucklanders experienced higher prices for petrol, electricity, council rates and visiting the doctor. On the other hand, food prices were unchanged from a year earlier and Aucklanders have benefited from cheaper prices for appliances and TVs.

Population, business and economic statistics such as these are critical to the new council, as it needs to base its policies and programmes on accurate data, rather than anecdotal information. Projections of future population changes are also critical to future-proof decision making.

Statistics New Zealand will release updated information this month about the number and type of businesses in the new council boundaries. New population estimates will also be published this month, using the new boundaries.

Next year we have our largest survey, the 2011 Census, which will provide updated critical data. Given the focus on public transport in Auckland, Census data on how and where Aucklanders are travelling will be of high interest.

Councils nationwide use the data to inform decisions around transport, sports and recreational facilities, and where affordable housing will be needed.

Statistics don't just support councils - they also help their watchdogs and facilitate informed debate. Community groups and others will use the statistics to highlight issues of interest to them. They can also use statistics to measure the council's progress or lack of it.

The purpose of the United Nations-mandated World Statistics Day is to celebrate globally the contribution of official statistics to community, national and international development. In New Zealand, I'd like to thank three groups of people.

First, the people involved in the production of statistics for their role in informing our country. Secondly, the users of statistics who are better informed as a result.

The biggest thanks go to the people who provide us with data for our household and business surveys. It is only because you give your time that we can produce the information that is key to helping your region, and our country, progress.

Geoff Bascand is the Government Statistician and chief executive of Statistics New Zealand.