Queenstown Lakes, pop. 52,800
Queenstown Lakes' population grew by an estimated 3,900 people in 12 months, as it once again became New Zealand’s fastest-growing territorial authority area.
While its growth figures took at hit over the pandemic years, provisional data released by Stats NZ this week shows it has regained the top spot.
The district's population grew by 8% in the 12 months to July 1, 2023, following lower growth of 1.5% in the same period to July 2022.
"This growth was driven by a net international migration gain of 2,500 people, with net internal migration of 1,100 (people moving within NZ) and natural increase of 340 (more births than deaths) making smaller contributions," estimates and projections manager Michael MacAskill says.
There are now around 52,800 living across Queenstown, Wānaka and the surrounding communities within the Queenstown Lakes District Council boundaries.
Nationally, the population grew by 2.1% (105,900 people) over the 12 months, a significant increase from the growth of 0.1% in the previous year (5,800 people).
Stats NZ breaks down the growth figures to regions and territorial authority areas (local council districts and cities).
Selwyn district (5.2%) was the second fastest growing, while Mackenzie district (3.6%), Hamilton city (3.4%), Auckland and Western Bay of Plenty district (both 2.8%), Waikato and Central Otago districts (both 2.6%), Tauranga city (2.5%), and Waimakariri district (2.2%) all beat the national average.
These areas all had population gains through net international migration and natural increase, and all but Auckland and Hamilton city had gains through net internal migration.
However, MacAskill says a "record 16 out of 67 territorial authority areas experienced natural decrease, or more deaths than births", over the 12 months.
The areas with the largest natural decreases included Dunedin city (190 more deaths than births), Thames-Coromandel district (170 more), Kapiti Coast district (160 more), Nelson city (100 more), Whanganui district (90 more), and Timaru district (80 more).
All territorial authority areas with natural decrease, apart from Buller district, still had population growth due to net migration gains.
Queenstown Lakes' growth drove Otago’s regional high growth rate (2.7%).
The population grew in all 16 regions, following two years of lower growth when several regions decreased in population.
Auckland was the fastest growing region, up 2.8% or 47,000 people, due to net migration figures and some natural increase.
"Auckland gained people through international migration, but lost people through internal migration, continuing the pattern since the late 1990s," MacAskill said.
"Otago, Waikato, and Bay of Plenty regions also grew faster than the New Zealand average."
The annual estimates are based on results from the 2018 Census updated for births, deaths, and migration. They are subject to revision after results from the 2023 Census and 2023 Post-enumeration Survey are available.
