Wellington

New Zealand saw the population grow in all 16 regions in the year ended June 2023, following two years of lower growth when several regions decreased in population, according to provisional estimates by the national statistics department on Wednesday.

Nationally, the population grew by 2.1 per cent in the year ended June 2023, a significant increase from the growth of 0.1 per cent in the previous year.

Auckland was the fastest growing region in 2023, reversing a population loss in 2022, said statistics department’s estimates and projections manager Michael MacAskill.

Auckland grew by 47,000 people, or by 2.8 per cent, in the year ended June 2023, MacAskill said, adding that Otago, Waikato, and Bay of Plenty regions also grew faster than the New Zealand average.

Net migration was the main contributor to Auckland’s growth, which was 78 per cent, with the remainder attributed to natural increase — births minus deaths, it said.

Net migration for subnational areas includes internal migration — people migrating within New Zealand, and international migration — people migrating between New Zealand and other countries, it added.

Auckland gained people through international migration, but lost people through internal migration, continuing the pattern since the late 1990s, MacAskill said.

Otago’s high growth rate, which was 2.7 per cent, was driven by population growth in Queenstown-Lakes district, New Zealand’s fastest-growing territorial authority area over the year, he said.

Queenstown-Lakes, renowned for beautiful scenery and adventure sports, grew by 8 per cent, or 3,900 people, in the year ended June 2023, following lower growth in 2022, MacAskill said.