The loss of jobs in the South risks exacerbating ageing population issues in ways not well understood, a Southern District Health Board member says.
Richard Thomson told the community and public health committee in Invercargill yesterday he was concerned the twin effects of economic change and an ageing population were not being taken into account.
His comments came in the wake of the announcement this week agricultural research centre Invermay will lose 85 jobs in 2016.
''Every time . . . more guts [is taken] out of the regions we escalate this trend,'' Mr Thomson said.
The committee had been presented with a report, commissioned from the University of Waikato, examining the South's demographic trends.
In the Southern District Health Board area, the number of those aged over 65 would rise 54% between 2011 and 2026, while the population as a whole would grow 6%.
Board member Mary Flannery said she would like to see this year's census results worked into the projections, when the data was available.
Speaking to the Otago Daily Times this week about the Invermay job losses, Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce was asked about Dunedin's changing demographics.
He said while the regions were outperforming the main centres economically at present, the population drift to bigger centres was part of a worldwide trend.
''There's a long-term shift in population the world over which is to bigger cities.
''You can't make people not live in a particular area, but I think where you can help with that is build the strong job opportunities and economic opportunities in those regions.''
The South Island had better employment prospects than the North Island, which was not solely because of rebuilding Christchurch, he said.
