The Waitaki region has seen a record gain in permanent and long-term arrivals from overseas in the past 12 months, boosting what community leaders say is a positive feeling in the district.
Statistics New Zealand data shows that in the year to February, the Waitaki district had a net gain of 125 permanent and long-term arrivals, after 271 people arrived in Waitaki and 146 left.
It is the biggest gain in permanent residents since at least 1992 (the period for which figures are available) and a 220% increase on the previous corresponding period.
Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher says the figures underline what the council has been hearing for the past year.
The challenge was now how the district could develop to continue to attract more people.
The latest migration figures were encouraging and despite some long-term predictions of a declining population ''there's no reason why we can't do things to buck that'', he said.
He cited a combination of irrigation and dairy as a major support for migration and said the North Otago Irrigation Company's stage 2 expansion would only create more opportunities in the region.
He was positive about prospects in the eastern area of the district after Oceana Gold recently indicated exploration was continuing at its mainstay Macraes site.
He expected the development of the North Oamaru Business Park would stimulate population growth through construction phases, as new businesses moved to the park and existing local businesses relocated and expanded.
Tourism could also drive permanent and long-term arrivals and encourage younger people to stay.
With the development of the Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail would come opportunities for new businesses to come to the region and existing businesses to develop to cater to a new demand.
''We've been named New Zealand's coolest town by Lonely Planet ... we have got good opportunities, good people and overall we're an interesting place.
''With all of these things adding together,we can keep young people here, or make sure they come back.''
Older migrants were also an opportunity.
If they were moving to Waitaki to retire, cheaper housing in Oamaru could mean money would be left over to make other investments in the community.
A report prepared by Rationale for the Waitaki District Council last year to form a basis for planning said 22% of the Waitaki population was 65 years or over, compared with the national average of 14%.
The trend was expected to continue, and 35% of the population was expected to be 65 or older by 2030.
Waitaki Newcomers Network co-ordinator Christine Dorsey said she had ''certainly'' noted an increase in interest in the past 12 months, but that also included many who had moved to the district from other areas of New Zealand.
There appeared to be the job opportunities to support growth , and in the past year, newcomers had taken up a variety of jobs, particularly in the trades sector.
''The middle-age group are coming for the jobs. The older people are coming and settling here as a nice place to live,'' she said.
Otago Chamber of Commerce North Otago spokesman Simon Berry said to build on the momentum, the district needed to take advantage of its assets, such as its resources, amenities and low congestion, and make sure the right support was in place.
Mr Berry has been a driving force behind the establishment of Venture Waitaki, a stand-alone economic development body in North Otago whose first priority is to attract new business to town.
The group's first public meeting will be held at 4pm on April 10 upstairs at Cucina 1871.
The migration figures reinforced the positive feeling in the Waitaki district, Mr Berry said''It's great there are statistics to back it up.''
