People of working age, families wanted for city

Dunedin's population is steadily increasing, but it could do with more families and people of a working age, Mayor Dave Cull says.

Statistics New Zealand figures revealed the city had a 1% increase of 1200 people in the year to June 30, 2011, bringing its population to 126,000.

The boost was double Dunedin's average annual change of the past four years, of 600 people, although Mr Cull said the city could always do with more people.

"I think there is a community view that not only could we do with more people in Dunedin, but more importantly, it's the family age group and working age group which is lacking," he said.

One of the questions he constantly asked himself was how the city could attract those demographics to counter the city's student and ageing populations.

"The challenge is, what kind of city do we want to create, or develop, that will attract those people?"

The city's average age was 34.5 years, although Mr Cull believed that was heavily influenced by the 20,000 students who each called Dunedin home for an average of three years.

Also experiencing positive population growth was the Queenstown Lakes District.

It was the second-fastest growing district in New Zealand, with an extra 900 people moving to the area.

Its increase of 3.2%, to 28,700 people, was second only to the Selwyn District, which increased 3.9%, to 41,100.

The districts were among 58 of the nation's 67 territorial authorities to experience population growth in the year to June 30, 2011, the fastest growing of which were in the South Island.

Statistics New Zealand believed the increases were partly due to the Canterbury earthquakes, which resulted in 8900 people leaving Christchurch and 5000 people leaving the wider region.

Queenstown Lakes District Council senior policy analyst Jonathan Richards said the area was a "popular place to live" and was "more resilient than other places".

Growth had been around the 2%-3% mark for several years.

"There is always a case of managing that growth and ensuring the area retains its attractiveness," he said.

The council's growth projections estimated the area's population would increase to 67,439 (44,093 residents and 23,346 visitors) by 2031.

The average age of the district's population was projected to rise from just under 36 in 2011 to nearly 42 in 2031.

New Zealand's population grew by 37,500, 0.9%, to 4,405,300, compared with 52,000, 1.2%, in the previous year.

The reduced population growth was largely due to an increase in international migration.

More than 80,000 people left New Zealand during the June 2011 year, 22% more than the previous year.

Auckland experienced a 1.6% increase (24,000 people) to 1,486,000, and Wellington 1.2% (2400 people) to 200,100.

 

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