Immigration News

Stats NZ data shows Selwyn District, near Christchurch, topped the growth charts with a 5.1% annual population increase between 2018 and 2024.

Queenstown-Lakes District was the second-fastest growing, at 3.7% a year. Data also showed little growth or population decreases in Dunedin and Wellington City.

The agency's population data spokesperson Victoria Treliving said the new data was the best possible estimate available with figures going back to 2018 revised for accuracy.

"Census data and the coverage results from the post-enumeration survey are used to recalibrate national and subnational population estimates,” she said.

"This recalibration ensures the population estimates are the best possible measure of how many people live in communities across the country."

The national data showed the North Island’s population grew by an average of 1.3% a year since 2018, now exceeding four million. The South Island’s population grew at a slightly faster rate of 1.4% a year, reaching 1.24 million in June 2024.

"It took just over two decades for the North Island’s population to increase from three million in late 2002 to four million in late 2023," Treliving said.

"Over the same time, the South Island population increased by almost 300,000 people."

Just over half of the country's population, 54%, live in the northern four regions of the North Island - Northland, Auckland, Waikato, and Bay of Plenty.

These areas accounted for 62% of growth since 2018. These regions, along with Tasman and Canterbury, were the only regions that grew faster than New Zealand as a whole.

NZ's population growth over the past decade has been high by historical standards - with all but four of the 88 territorial and Auckland local board areas growing between 2018 and 2024.

Little or negative growth in Dunedin, Wellington
Data shows three council areas and five Auckland local board areas had growth of less than 0.2% a year, or population loss, between June 2018 and June 2024.

Wellington City had a small population decrease, dropping by 0.1% a year, between 2018 and 2024, while Dunedin City grew by an average of only 0.1% annually.

“In the last two years, Dunedin City has had more deaths than births, resulting in a natural decrease. In every year since 2018, more people moved out of Wellington City to other areas of New Zealand, than moved from those areas to Wellington," Treliving said.

"Dunedin also experienced net losses through internal migration in two of the last six years. However, both Dunedin and Wellington gained people through international migration."

The population of the Chatham Islands decreased by an average of 1.9% a year since 2018, or an estimated 80 people over the six years to a total population of 610 in 2024.

Across the Auckland local board areas, Waitematā, Devonport-Takapuna, and Waiheke each grew by an average of 0.1% a year between 2018 and 2024. Meanwhile, Ōrākei and Albert-Eden had average decreases of 0.1 and 0.2% a year, respectively.

The areas with the lowest or negative population growth in Auckland are predominantly areas closest to the city centre. Meanwhile, across the local board areas, Papakura was the fastest growing, at 5% a year between 2018 and 2024.

"A key driver for the small population growth or decline in Auckland areas was net migration from these areas to other parts of Auckland or elsewhere in New Zealand," Treliving said.

The latest overall population estimate for New Zealand is 5.31 million people as at December 31 2024.

New Figures Reveal Fastest Growing Areas in New Zealand

New figures have revealed the areas growing their populations the fastest in New Zealand as well as those who have seen very low growth or decreases in population.

The government's new "golden visa" for investors has received 44 applications since it came into effect on 1 April - with about half of the applications coming from existing applicants transitioning to the new category.

The government's new "golden visa" for investors has received 44 applications since it came into effect on 1 April - with about half of the applications coming from existing applicants transitioning to the new category.

The new visa category has removed the previous English language requirements and now has two simplified categories.

The minimum investment under the Active Investor Plus Visa Programme is $5 million over three years under its growth category, or $10m over five years under its balanced category.

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) said 36 of the applications received to date were in the growth category, and eight were in the balanced category.

Twenty-three of the applications came from existing applicants who were transitioning to the new settings.

INZ director of visas Jock Gilray said it was estimated that the applications would amount to a minimum total investment of $260m.

He said so far, seven applications have been approved in principle, with a total minimum investment of $35m.

'Golden visa' applications: Seven investors with $35m to spend approved so far....

44 applications received since 1 April representing total of $260m. Migrants under the old policy had only invested $70 million since 2022. Clear interest in the new, more friendly category.

From 6 July 2025, people from Pacific Islands forum countries granted a Visitor Visa will be able to visit New Zealand multiple times within a 24-month period.Pacific Islands Forum country passport holders travelling to New Zealand from Australia (unless they are travelling on a transit visa) will also be able to travel visa-free as a trial for 12 months, beginning in November 2025.

Easier visa access for Pacific Islanders

Improved travel conditions & visa free travel from Australia for Pacific Islanders

Registrations will open for the 2025 Samoan Quota and the Pacific Access Category

The 2025 Pacific Access Category and Samoan Quota ballots to open 1 April

at 08:00 New Zealand Daylight Saving Time (NZDT).

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Immigration News

New Figures Reveal Fastest Growing Areas in New Zealand

'Golden visa' applications: Seven investors with $35m to spend approved so far....

Easier visa access for Pacific Islanders

The 2025 Pacific Access Category and Samoan Quota ballots to open 1 April