Census sets new 49th electorate for N Island

NZ population due to hit 5m next year, according to figures delivered by Stats NZ

New Zealand’s population has grown at its fastest rate in 50 years and is expected to reach 5 million next year, according to the first data released from the bungled 2018 Census.

While a panel of experts says the figures are reliable, it has raised ethical concerns about the way the numbers were put together.

The population in 2018 officially reached 4,699,755, jumping by 457,707 since the 2013 census — the largest growth by number since 1961, Stats NZ said. Growth had been at 2.1 per cent a year since 2013, compared to just 0.7 for the previous Census period, with immigration accounting for two-thirds.

Stats NZ’s general census manager, Kathy Connolly, said the population was set to hit 5 million next year. Northland was the fastest-growing region and Waikato the second, while Auckland has passed 1.5 million people. The fastest-growing districts were Queenstown-Lakes (up 38.7 per cent to 39,153) and Selwyn (up 35.8 per cent).

The North Island will get one new electorate for next year’s election while about a third of electorates will be redrawn.

The Government’s statisticians have faced scrutiny since last year’s Census with one in seven people failing to complete it.

That meant Stats NZ had to use alternative data from other Government agencies — such as birth records and drivers’ licences — to fill the gaps.

The country’s top statistician, Liz MacPherson, resigned over the result in August but has remained to see the clean-up effort.

The department concluded there would be a new electorate in the North Island for next year’s general election.

Where the new seat will go will be determined by the Representation Commission by April.

There were no changes to South Island or Ma¯ori electorates.

That will take the number of electoral seats from 71 to 72 (48 to 49 in the North Island), and decrease the number of list seats from 49 to 48.