The number of recorded births and deaths are up in Otago - and so is life expectancy.
Information released by Statistics New Zealand shows 2392 births were registered in Otago during the September year, up from 2369 the previous year.
While 12 of the 16 regions recorded a decrease in births, including Gisborne (down 10%) and Tasman (down 8%), Otago recorded a 1% increase on the previous year.
Recorded deaths decreased in eight regions, including Auckland (down 5%), Waikato (down 3%) and Wellington (down 3%), but increased in Otago (4%) for the year ending September 2009.
For the year, 1589 deaths were registered in Otago, up from 1523 the year before.
The total was the highest number of deaths in the province since 2002.
An earlier Statistics New Zealand report concluded the highest life expectancy during 2005-07 was in Auckland - for both males (79.4 years) and females (83.2) - while Gisborne region had the lowest life expectancy for both males (73.8) and females (78.1).
Life expectancy for people in Otago was higher than the national average of 78.2 for men and 82.2 for woman, with 78.7 and 82.7 respectively.
All regions recorded an increase in life expectancy between 1995-97 and 2005-07.
