NZ's natural population increase highest in 13 years
12:10PM Friday February 16, 2007

Births outnumbered deaths in New Zealand last year by almost 31,000 -- the highest natural increase in 13 years, the latest figures from Statistics New Zealand say.

The increase of 30,950 has not been eclipsed since 1993, when there were 31,680 more births than deaths.

It may not be repeated in the near future as demographers predict that the natural increase will decline over coming years as the bulge of "baby boomers" enter retirement and old age.

Deaths are predicted to outnumber births from 2042.

New Zealand's population grew by 45,100 (1.1 per cent) last year, with natural increase contributing roughly two-thirds of the growth and migration the remaining third.

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