Another drop in New Zealand population

Press, 11 May 1979, Page 3

Another drop in New Zealand population

PA Wellington New Zealand's population is provisionally estimated to h?ve decreased by 1300 or 0.04 per cent, bringing the total population to 3,144,600 at the year ended March 31, 1979.

The Government Statistican (Mr E. A. Harris) said yesterday that for the year ended March 31, 1978, the population growth was 5500, or 02 per cent, and for the 12 months ended March 31, 1977. 15,900 or 0.5 per cent. In the quarter ended March 31, 1979, there was an estimated population decrease of about 6800, resulting from a natural increase (excess of births over deaths) of 7500. and a net loss through migration of 14.300.

In the quarter ended March 31, 1978, there was a corresponding decrease of 6000. while in the quarter ended March 31, 1977, there was a decrease of 7900.

The estimated mean population for the year ended Marco 31 1979, is 3,129,100. The numbers of New Zealanders emigrating to Britain are continuing to surpass Britons coming to live in New Zealand The N.Z.P.A. staff correspondent in London says that the latest international migration statistics issued by the British Office of Population Censuses and Surveys show that the emigrant-im-migrant flow favours Britain two to one. According to the 0.P.C.5.,

emigration from New Zea« land increased more in the September quarter last year than from any other country, while emigration from Britain was down by 1000. The table regards immigrants as those who have lived in New Zealand for more than one year and declare their intention of living in the United Kingdom for at least a year, and viceversa. The figures also include New Zealanders on working holidays. According to the report, 2600 New Zealanders arrived in the U.K. in the quarter with the intention of staying more than one year, compared to 1500 Britons who went to New Zealand.

The figure puts New Zealand near the head of the immigration list, with only Australia (5900) ahead as an individual Commonwealth nation. Only 2100 immigrants arrived from Canada, a similar number from the West Indies, while 5300 emigrated from all African Commonwealth nations, and 4900 from India. Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh combined. The highest numbers of migrants came from the eight other European Community member nations (12,500), followed by 7700 from the United States. The most attractive destinations for departing Britons were the E.E.C. and the rest of Europe (21,700), followed by the U.S. (9600), the Middle East (9500), Australia (6200), and Canada (5200).