AUCKLAND LEADS FAST GROWTH OF ALL N.Z. CITIES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 84, 11 January 1950, Page 5

AUCKLAND LEADS FAST GROWTH OF ALL N.Z. CITIES

With an increase of 9,100 during the year ended March 31, Auckland’s population is now just short of 300,000. It began the period with an urban population of 289,800 and ended it with 298,900.

Auckland’s Progress The growth was greater than that of Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin combined. Compared With Auckland’s 9,100, these three cities recorded an increase together of 8,800. Releasing these figures recently the Government Statistician at Wellington also shows that Hamilton, the seventh on the list of New Zealand cities, has topped the 30,000 mark. Apart from the four main centres, the only other cities above this figure are Palmerston North and Invercargill. Hamilton’s rate of growth was superior to that of Palmerston North in .1947-48, but last year it dropped to 7QO compared with Palmerston North’s 1,000. However, Hamilton now seems to be overtaking Invercargill, which increased by only 500.

City Figures Including Maoris, the estimated population figures for urban areas at April 1, 1949, with those at April 1, 1948, in parentheses, are:—

v Auckland, 298,900 (289,800); Wellington, 189,900 (186,100); Christchurch, 167,900 (164,000); Dunedin, 89,900 (88,800); Palmerston North, 31,100 (30,100); Invercargill, 30,500 (30,000); Hamilton, 30,100 (29,400); Wanganui, 28,500 (28,200); Hastings, 23,300 (22,600); New Plymouth, 23,300 (22,600). Estimated populations include those of cities or boroughs of city size lying within urban boundaries. •