Population close to static

A declining birth rate and a dramatic slump in immigration rates have slowed New Zealand's population growth.

According to figures released by Statistics New Zealand today, the estimated resident population at June 30, 2005 was 4,098,200.

Population growth for the year to June was estimated to be 36,800, compared with 52,200 in the June 2004 year.

The June 2005 year estimate is below the average annual increase of 42,500 for the June years from 1995 to 2005.

Government statistician Brian Pink said the lower population growth was mainly due to a fall in net permanent and long-term migration.

Permanent and long-term arrivals exceeded departures by 8600 and accounted for 23 per cent of population growth in the June 2005 year. This compares with the June 2004 year where the net migration gain was 22,000, or 42 per cent of population growth.

Natural increase, the excess of births over deaths, was 28,200 in the June 2005 year, slightly lower than the 30,200 natural increase recorded in the June 2004 year.

The population aged 65 years and over continues to be the age group with the highest growth, increasing by 74,100 over the last decade, to reach 497,500 at 30 June 2005.

Women appear to be ageing at a faster rate than the male population.

Half of New Zealand's female population was over the age of 36.4 years and half the males were over the age of 34.6 years.

The median age increased by 3.1 years for women and 2.7 years for men between the June 1995 and 2005 years.

The number of people eligible to vote in the general election on September 17 was estimated to be 2,990,300.

- NZPA