Recession helps push population up to 4.3 million.

Tuesday, 27 October 2009

More Kiwis are calling NZ home, as the population rises and fewer people move overseas.   The official population has risen to 4.3 million, partly because the economic downturn has seen fewer Kiwis search for greener pastures overseas.   An extra 42,150 (1.1%) people live in NZ than at this time last year, up from a a 40,600 increase last year.  Only 74,736 people permanently left NZ in the 2008-09 financial year, while 88,251 arrived.  Waikato University professor of population economics, Jacques Poot said the economic downturn was a key factor, as people were more likely to remain in their current jobs.  Urban areas grew in size, with Auckland City's population up 1.5% over year ending June 2009 to 1,333,300.  Wellington's population grew by 1.4% to 195,500.   (Source: Statistics NZ).