Meet Emily, our 1.5 millionth Aucklander

Emily Van Wonderen is held by her mum Jolene at Birthcare in Parnell. Photo / Greg Bowker

Meet Emily Van Wonderen - the baby girl pushing Auckland's population to 1.5 million.

The tiny bundle of joy is the NZ Herald's nominated 1.5 millionth Aucklander, after statisticians said a baby born this week would hit the milestone.

Emily's parents, Jolene and Andre, thought it was "quite amazing" that they could be holding such an important baby and said it was something they planned to tell her when she was older.

"Something for the scrapbook for sure," Mrs Van Wonderen told the Herald yesterday.

Emily was born at 10.26pm on Monday - just an hour and a half before her due date - weighing in at a healthy 3.5kg.

Mrs Van Wonderen hoped that Emily's punctuality was a trait she would hold onto as she grew up. "Time will tell," she said.

Emily's older brother, Willem, met his little sister for the first time yesterday, which his parents said went "very well".

"He just wanted lots of cuddles," Mrs Van Wonderen said from Birthcare in Parnell.

Mr and Mrs Van Wonderen, both 29 and of Ellerslie, have yet to decide whether they'll add to their brood. "Two's good for us at the moment I think," Mrs Van Wonderen said.

Population statistics manager Andrea Blackburn said: "The 1.5 millionth person could be a migrant coming from overseas or from within New Zealand but it is most likely to be a new baby."