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Home / New Zealand

Our population's getting older

Wairarapa Times-Age
29 Oct, 2012 08:24 PM3 mins to read

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Wairarapa's population is getting older with our median age now about 10 years older than our neighbours in Wellington.

Statistics New Zealand figures show the median age in the Masterton district is 42.5, up from 42.3 last year and 40.3 in 2006.

South Wairarapa residents' median age has also risen, to 45.7, while Carterton is relatively stable on 43.7.

Wellington's median age is just 33.6 years, while New Zealand's is now 37, up from 35.8 in 2006.

Lansdowne Park Lifestyle Village director Trevor Marshall said the just-opened 50-bed care centre in Masterton was built due to increased demand in the Wairarapa region.

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More than 1500 people attended public open days at the retirement village last week, Mr Marshall said.

The care centre and service department had received a large number of bookings in recent weeks. The region's ageing population was factored into the proposal to build the retirement village, he said.

The $16 million, 79-unit complex is expected to return $6.5million to the local economy annually, Mr Marshall said.

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Statistics NZ data shows the nation's population is growing at its slowest rate in a decade and the population as a whole is getting older.

New Zealand's population grew by 28,000 during the June year, compared with 37,400 the year before.

The annual growth of 0.6 per cent was the lowest since 2001. Statistics NZ said the reduced population growth was due to more international migrant departures (up 9 per cent), fewer births (down 3 per cent), and more deaths (up 2 per cent).

Hamilton city is the country's most youthful centre, with a median age of just 31.7 years.

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Other areas with relatively young populations included Palmerston North (32.4 years), Porirua (33.6 years), Auckland (34.3 years) and Dunedin (34.6 years).

And while we are getting older as a nation, the ageing population has yet to translate into surging demand for funerals, Funeral Directors Association of NZ president Eion McKinnon said.

"We've been relatively static over the last few years. People are living longer now because of better health care and rest home care."

Mr McKinnon said he didn't expect to see any significant increase until the baby boomers, now in their 60s, reached their mid-80s, about 20 years from now.

The country's oldest area is the Thames-Coromandel region with a median age of 49.1, followed by the Kapiti Coast at 46.9. About one in four residents from both regions are over 65 years.

Statistics NZ forecasts indicate the country's median age will continue to grow older. APNZ

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Golden Years

The median age in the Masterton district is 42.5, compared to 42.3 last year and 40.3 in 2006.

The median age in Carterton is 43.7, compared to 43.8 last year and 41.4 in 2006.

The median age in the South Wairarapa district is 45.7, compared to 45.3 last year and 42.7 in 2006.

The median age in New Zealand is 37, compared to 36.8 last year and 35.8 in 2006.

28,000 more people were living in New Zealand as of June 30 (compared to the year before).

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Source: Statistics NZ

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