Kapiti working-aged population to decline
Kapiti faces a future where less than half its residents are of the working age according to a government report, but the district’s mayor says it won’t be a problem.
The figures came in a 2016 report on demographics, commissioned by the Ministry of Education.
Obtained under the Official Information Act, the report said the number of Kapiti residents aged 15 to 65 would drop by 521 people, down to about 47 per cent of the district’s population by 2038.
The report said the latest census data showed the working age population made up about 56 per cent of the population.
But Mayor K Gurunathan said older residents had healthier lifestyles, and could no longer be considered nonworking.
‘‘They’re wrong. Even in Kapiti people up to 70 years old still work.
‘‘It’s not just a New Zealand phenomena, it happens in all western-developed countries.’’
The 2038 working population figure would increase from 27,127 to 31,805 with 65-69 yearolds included, about 55 per cent of the overall population.
The report said the proportion of over-65s was expected to increase from about 26 per cent to 37 per cent between 2013 and 2038.
Gurunathan said the over-65s increase could attract medical professionals and those in the building industry.
‘‘I don’t see this as a problem ... the low-hanging fruit is in the retirement industry, and we should be leveraging that.’’
He said he also wanted to attract entrepreneurs, small businesses and people who work from home.
The report said one-person households will increase by about 2000 up to the year 2033.
‘‘We need to look to build for these people who have a more independent life,’’ Gurunathan said.
The report stated the under15 population was likely to decrease from 18 to 16 per cent, despite a net increase of about 300 people.
Overall, the population is expected to increase by about 17 per cent, from 49,101 in 2013 to 57,415 in 2038.
The Greater Wellington Regional Council’s 2013 demographic report said Kapiti is predicted to have the secondhighest population growth rates of the eight districts in the Wellington region.