Whangarei Leads Population Progress

Northern Advocate, 27 September 1949, Page 4

Whangarei Leads Population Progress

WHANGAREI Borough had an estimated, population of 10,700 as at April 1, an increase of 350 since the same date last year, when the figure was 10,350, and 1411 more than the 1945 census population figure of 9289. The 1936 census gave the population at 7152, which means that the borough’s population has increased 33.158 per cent since that time.

These figures show that Whangarei is making, better population progress than the town with which it is often compared—-Masterton—which had the same estimated population at April 1.

The estimates are contained in the Census and Statistics Department’s abstract of statistics for June-July, 1949, May, 1949, and April, 1946. They are based largely on natural increase, and do not provide for all people taking up residence for the first time. Whangarei’s gain would be even more remarkable if the increase through excess of arrivals over departures was known. RAPID GROWTH , The following table shows how the two boroughs have progressed since the 1936 census:— Whangarei, 1936: Population 7152; 1945 census, 9289 (increase 2173 or 23.5 per cent); 1948 (estimate), 10,350 (increase 1061 or 10.35 per cent); 1949 (estimate), 10,700 (increase 350, 3.2.7 per cent). Masterton, 1936: Population 9096. 1945: 9535 (increase 439, or 4.50 per cent); 1948, 10,400 (increase 865, or 8.32 per cent); 1949, 10,700 (increase 300, or 2.70 per cent). Whangarei’s population increase since 1936 to 1949 was therefore 3548, or 33.158 per cent, and Masterton’s 1604. or 14,99 per cent—less than hall the Whangarei figure. OTHER NORTHERN CENTRES Population figures for Whangarei Borough do not include the town districts of Hikurangi, Kamo and Onerahi, which, in the 1936 census, contained 1042, 456 and 435 people respectively. In the 1945 census the figures were: Hikurangi 1030, Kamo 556 and Onerahi 490. In the nine years, Kaitaia Borough’s population increased by 390, from 819 in 1936 to 1209 in 1945. Similarly, Dargaville increased from 2176 to 2370. Kaikohe, which became a borough on July 1, 1947, contained 062 people in 1936, and 947 in 1945. The population in 1947 was estimated at 1500.