Lifestyle and Leisure
Growth of NZ population
It may be small, but New Zealands population has nevertheless been growing at a considerable rate in recent times
David Fuller examines the areas of the country which have been experiencing particularly booming populations over the past few years. One of the many appeals that New Zealand holds for British immigrants is that in spite of it being similar in size to the UK, it's home to fewer than 14 times the number of people who currently grace the shores of Blighty.
As of the 2006 census, the Land of the Long White Cloud was home to just 4,027,947 people, meaning there were, on average, a mere 15 Kiwis living in each square kilometre of the country, compared to the 246 Brits crammed into the same size area in the UK. However, the number of people living in New Zealand is growing steadily. On 24th April 2003, the day the country's population broke the four million barrier, government statistician Brian Pink said it was unlikely that New Zealand would ever become home to as many as five million people, predicting that the number of residents would likely reach 4.8 million by 2046 and then level out. Now, though, it is projected that New Zealand's population will surpass the five million mark by 2041 possibly even sooner. Between 2001 and 2006 New Zealand's population growth rate was far higher than that of the UK's, increasing by 7.8 per cent in this five-year period, compared to just under 3 per cent in Britain. But which Kiwi districts and cities bore the brunt of this population increase and just what is fuelling people's desire to go and live in these areas?
Fastest-growing districts
The Queenstown-Lakes District experienced by far and away the biggest population increase of any Kiwi district between 2001 and 2006. During this period the number of people resident in Queenstown-Lakes increased from 17,040 to 22,956 a 34.7 per cent rise. However, with a population density of just three people per square kilometre living in an area which covers some 8,705 square kilometres, this district is still far from overcrowded.
Situated in the heart of Central Otago on the South Island, the main towns in the Queenstown-Lakes district are Wanaka, Glenorchy, Arrowtown and, of course, Queenstown itself, which is home to almost half of the district's total number of residents. So named due to the trio of picturesque lakes Hawea, Wakatipu and Wanaka which are all located within the district, Queenstown-Lakes is widely considered to be one of the most scenic parts of New Zealand, with the Remarkables mountain range providing a stunning backdrop to the area.
Traditionally, the district has been a popular tourism hot-spot as opposed to a favoured residential location. Queenstown has forged a reputation for itself as New Zealand's adventure capital, with bungy jumping, skiing, hiking and water-based activities such as jet-boating and rafting all attracting thousands upon thousands of adrenaline junkies into the town and its surrounding areas every year. Consequently, the district is one of the most expensive in NZ as local businesses and property investors have sought to maximise the area's obvious tourism potential and the money that this brings in. In fact, the average price of property in the district is by far and away the most expensive in the entire country NZ$611,427 according to www.qv.co.nz. The same source puts the national average house price at a significantly lower NZ$390,636.
However, the area's attractive location, increasingly strong economy driven largely by tourism, but ably assisted by growing viticulture, film, and technology sectors improving infrastructure, and high quality of life have led to the district becoming a more and more popular choice for those seeking a permanent abode. After Queenstown-Lakes, New Zealand's next fastest growing territory is the Selwyn District. Also located on the South Island, this time in the central area of the Canterbury region, Selwyn registered a 23.3 per cent population increase between 2001 and 2006, taking the district's total number of residents to 33,666. Selwyn is an extremely rural district approximately half of its residents live on farms and the rest in a number of small towns dotted throughout the territory which stretches 150 kilometres west from the edge of Christchurch City to the snow-capped crests of the Southern Alps and Arthur's Pass National Park.
It is in the sprawling Canterbury Plains where most of Selwyn's larger towns and villages are located, and almost all of these have shown signs of growth since 1990 the district's total population has been increasing every year since then. The communities located within the 'commuter belt', in other words within 20 kilometres of Christchurch City, have shown the most growth during this period, particularly Rolleston. Located on the main State 1 Highway, around 25 kilometres west of Christchurch City, as recently as the mid 1990s Rolleston was a small railway village which was home to fewer than 1,000 people. However, as Christchurch has become a slightly more expensive place to live in recent years, people have started to look outside the city limits for an affordable alternative which still offers all the work and lifestyle advantages of being close to the 'big smoke'. Rolleston has been one of the towns to benefit most from this, and is now home to more than 5,000 people making it easily the biggest town in the Selwyn District. What's more, by 2015 it is estimated the town's population will have reached 14,000 little wonder, then, that the town's slogan at present is 'town of the future'.
Other commuter towns in Selwyn, such as Lincoln and Prebbleton both of which are also within 30 minutes of Christchurch are also experiencing significant population increases. Across the Cook Strait, Rodney is the North Island's fastest-growing district. The northernmost area of the Auckland region, Rodney's population grew by 17.6 per cent in the 2001 to 2006 period and is now home to just under 90,000 people. Towns in the district, such as Helensville, Warkworth and Orewa, have all become increasingly popular residential areas in recent years, particularly among commuters looking to work in and around Auckland City but without the need to be located in the middle of NZ's own version of the rat race. And it would seem that residents of the district are more than happy to call Rodney 'home'. A national Quality of Life Report conducted by 12 regional councils last year resulted in inhabitants of Rodney proving to be more content than those from any other settlement taking part in the survey. In all, 92 per cent of Rodney-based respondents said they were either happy or very happy with where they live, while a similar percentage stated that their quality of life is either good or very good. "As a Rodney resident myself for the last four years, I can personally vouch for this sentiment," says Geoff Taylor, a director of immigration consultancy The Emigration Group. "What we have here [in Rodney] is pretty amazing
a warm sub-tropical climate, the best beaches, world-class vineyards and plenty of space."
Taylor continues: "The good feeling and contentment enjoyed by Rodney's residents is backed by sound economic indicators. Its growth in Gross Domestic Product was the second highest among those areas surveyed and it had the highest increase in economically viable businesses established 40.3 per cent well above the national average of 26.3 per cent." In recent years a number of lifestyle blocks have been built around Rodney to house the increasing commuter population, although the district's council has maintained a green belt of rural land to ensure that the attractive district doesn't simply become an extension of NZ's biggest city.
Fastest-growing cities
When it comes to which of New Zealand's major urban areas recorded the highest population growth between 2001 and 2006, it is the North Island city of Tauranga that comes out on top. The largest city in the Bay of Plenty region, Tauranga is located on the Pacific Coast highway around 220 kilometres south-east of Auckland, and has tripled in size over the past 25 years.
In the five years to 2006, the city's population increased by 13.8 per cent taking the total number of inhabitants in the city to 108,882, and making it New Zealand's ninth-largest urban area in total. What's more, this monumental growth is predicted to continue in and around the Tauranga area for the next 35 years at least. Population projections from the University of Waikato's SmartGrowth programme predict that by 2026 Tauranga's population will have risen to 156,290 a 68 per cent rise on the 2001 population while Statistics New Zealand figures suggest that the number of residents in the city could even exceed 157,000 by that year.
Looking even further ahead, some estimates state that the population of Tauranga is likely to reach 209,300 people by 2051. The reason Tauranga is growing at such a fast pace is more down to its idyllic location than its reputation as an economic hub although the city's central business district is increasingly providing more and more jobs for locals. Home to some of New Zealand's best beaches and surf spots, not to mention one of the country's most enviable climates, Tauranga has long been a popular domestic holiday spot for retirees and surfers, although it is the older generation who have been responsible for fuelling much of the city's recent growth. In fact, according to the 2006 census 22.4 per cent of Tauranga's population was aged 60 or over, while the national average for this age range was just 16.8 per cent. However, it is not just the over 60s who find much to admire about Tauranga. It is predicted that overseas immigration will also play a significant role in the expected future population growth of the city, as families become more aware of the lifestyle on offer in this booming destination. Of course, there are concerns that Tauranga may be growing too quickly for its own good, and that with a population density of 611 people per square kilometre only areas of Auckland and Wellington have higher densities it will quickly become overcrowded. However, the city's council insists it has measures in place to ensure Tauranga's economy and infrastructure keeps pace with the ever-expanding population. Only three of New Zealand's other main urban areas recorded double-digit population growth between 2001 and 2006: Auckland, Hamilton and Kapiti, all of which are located on the North Island.
Despite the fact it is already home to approximately 30 per cent of the country's entire population, Auckland's population is still continuing to increase at a rate much faster than the national average. By 2006 the city's population had reached 1,208,094, up 12.4 per cent from 1,074,507 in 2001. It will probably come as little surprise to learn that, at 1,113 people per square kilometre, Auckland's population density is the highest in NZ. The Central Auckland Zone is particularly compact, with 2,562 residents packed into each square kilometre. However, if this sounds like it is a lot, then it's worth bearing in mind that in London there are more than 4,760 people sandwiched into a square kilometre. And Rodney Foley, a Brit who now lives in Auckland having lived in London prior to emigrating, believes there is no comparison when it comes to which city he'd rather be residing in. "I cannot compare my life in London with Auckland," he says. "Here, there are stunning views, beaches, forests and shops, all of which create a unique place to live, work or play. "The abundance of attractions means that there is something to suit any mood, whether you are looking for the scenic, cultural or just some great shopping." Already by far and away the number one destination for newcomers to NZ, largely because it is the country's cultural and economic hub, it is unlikely that Auckland's population will continue to do anything other than increase at consistently high levels for the foreseeable future.
Hamilton New Zealand's largest inland city, located just over 80 miles south of Auckland recorded a population increase of 11.3 per cent between 2001 and 2006, bringing its total population to 184,905, while Kapiti, a small coastal area just north of Wellington experienced a five-year population increase of 10.9 per cent, meaning it is now home to 37,347 residents. Hamilton's rising population can be largely attributed to a combination of its central North Island location and the fact it is a city with huge potential, largely thanks to its thriving agricultural industry which is currently providing healthy boosts to the city's economy.
In Kapiti, it is Wellington-bound commuters who are responsible for providing the main source of the area's growth. "Although we have to travel to work we don't mind as the journey takes in some fantastic scenery whether you go by train or the road," says Bev Booth, a Brit who moved to the area in 2005. "The Kiwi's think the roads are congested but we don't have a problem with them and rarely get held up. "It certainly beats the M62!"
Over on the South Island the growth of the main urban areas tended to be far slower. Whilst Christchurch's population increased at a rate above the national level (8 per cent), growth in Nelson (5 per cent), Dunedin (3.7 per cent) and Invercargill (1 per cent) was lower. Of course, while the population growth currently taking place in New Zealand is easily outstripping that seen in the UK, the main difference is that, even in the areas where the increases are particularly large, New Zealand still has plenty of space.
And it will be a good few years yet before the masses of space available in the Land of the Long White Cloud ceases to be a major attraction for us overcrowded Brits.
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