NZ population to hit milestone tonight
4.6 millionth Kiwi due this evening. But Stats NZ figures show immigration, not births, is the main driver of population growth.
New Zealand's population will hit 4.6 million at about 6.45pm tonight according to the Statistics New Zealand Population Clock, which uses census data and other information to predict the population.
The click accounts for one birth every nine minutes and two seconds, one death every 17 minutes and 32 seconds, and a net migration gain every 11 minutes and 17 seconds.
Net migration, which is the difference between arrivals and departures, is the main driver of New Zealand's population growth, Statistics NZ senior demographer Kim Dunstan says.
"So in the year to the end of May, net migration was 58,000 and natural increase, which is the difference between births and deaths, is running at about 27,000 a year.
"Clearly net migration is currently making the largest contribution to our population growth which is a bit of a change from the long-term historical trend where natural increase has been the main contributor," he said.
Long-term population projections showed a "general slowing" of population growth as the population ages, because of more deaths and fewer births," Mr Dunstan says.
"Net migration has always been quite volatile in New Zealand, it was only a few years ago we had more departures than arrivals.
Auckland has accounted for half of New Zealand's population growth since 2006.
Census 2013 also found that the number of Aucklanders born overseas now tops 500,000.
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NZ population to hit milestone tonight
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