Regional councils unite to develop growth strategy

How fast is Auckland growing?

The Auckland Region (the area covered by the Auckland Regional Council) is growing by nearly 40,000 people a year. The region's population at June 30 last year was estimated at 1,291,000.

Can we stop growth?

Not at regional level, says the ARC. "Influencing the rate of growth is possible but this is a central government function."

The council says it cannot for instance:

* Stop people from having children.

* Stop people from other parts of New Zealand moving to the region.

* Stop migrants from choosing to settle in the Auckland region.

How about controlling migration?

Restricting the number of migrants is a potential option for slowing growth, says the council. But decisions about migrant numbers are made by central government.

While some people would like migration reduced, others can provide arguments for welcoming more of them into New Zealand.

How much effect has migration had?

Using Statistics NZ figures the council says around 60 per cent of the region's growth usually come from natural increase. In the year to last June that fell to 45 per cent. It says the remaining 55 per cent came from migration from other countries.

A large proportion of these migrants are returning New Zealanders.

Auckland's population increased 3.1 per cent in the year to last June, the fastest in the country. The prediction for the year ending this month is 2.8 per cent.

What can councils do about growth?

Noel Reardon, the ARC's regional development manager says: "The ARC is not in the job of stopping growth, just making sure it is planned and properly controlled."

Regional councils have a responsibility to plan for accommodating future growth in a sustainable way. The eight Auckland councils (see map) have got together and developed the Auckland Regional Growth Strategy.