POPULATION OF N.Z. Four Million By 1989

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28528, 6 March 1958, Page 10

POPULATION OF N.Z. Four Million By 1989

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, March 5.

The population of New Zealand may reach 4,000,000 by 1989, says the first volume of the population census, 1955, released today by the-Department of Statistics. This figure will be realised if the average annual rate of growth—2.3l per cent. —recorded between 1951 and 1956 is maintained. The publication notes, however, that “long-range forecasts of population are still subject to so many ’assumptions of future trends or events that their correctness is always open to question.” On the night of Tuesday, April 17, 1956, geographical New Zealand had a population of 2,174,062, including 137,157 Maoris. The census excluded the island territories and the trust territory of Western Samoa which contained, 120,000 persons. «►.

New Zealand’s first million was reached in 1908, 68 years after she was proclaimed a British colony, and in the next 48 years the population’ more than doubled itself. The second million was reached in August, 1952. Low Density, High Increase The first returns of the 1956 census reveal that New Zealand has a relatively low density of population (21 persons to the square mile) compared with the Netherlands (850), England and Wales (759), Belgium (749) and Japan (616). Australia comes lowest on the international list with three to every square mile.

New Zealand also shows the third highest average annual increase in population—2.3l per cent, compared with 2.84 per cent, for Ceylon and 2.46 per cent, for Australia.

Of New Zealand’s provincial districts, Auckland with 34.29 persons to the square mile and Wellington with 39.48 have the greatest densities of population. The publication notes that expansion in Auckland during the last 50 years has been largely due to expansion of the dairy industry.