Auckland leads city growth, Wellington shrinks most as Stats NZ releases provisional population estimates

HouGarden New Zealand, 2 November — The figures, which are provisional estimates and not census results, cover the June year to 2026. Stats NZ cautioned they should be read as indicative rather than confirmed or final data.

Auckland's overall population rose 1.2% in the year to June 2026 to an estimated 1,841,200, making it the fastest-growing city in the country. Hamilton was second at 1.0% growth, followed by Christchurch at 0.9%.

Within Auckland, 18 of the region's 21 local board areas expanded. Māngere-Ōtāhuhu and Papakura each grew 2.3%, Ōtara-Papatoetoe rose 2.1%, and Henderson-Massey was up 2.0%.

Not all of Auckland grew, however. Waiheke local board area fell 1.4%, the largest percentage decline of any of the 87 territorial authorities and Auckland local boards — a combined statistical unit Stats NZ calls TALBs, which groups other councils together with Auckland's individual local boards to allow like-for-like comparison. Aotea/Great Barrier declined 0.7% and Ōrākei dropped 0.4%.

Waitematā local board presents a more complex picture relevant to buyers and investors tracking inner-city demand. The area recorded a net internal migration loss of 2,400 people — the highest internal outflow of any TALB in the country — meaning more New Zealand residents left the area than arrived. At the same time, Waitematā received a net international migration gain of 3,000, the largest international inflow of any TALB. The two forces pulled in opposite directions, with overseas arrivals more than offsetting the departure of domestic residents.

Canterbury's Selwyn district was the fastest-growing territorial authority nationwide, expanding 2.9% to reach an estimated 90,800 people. Selwyn is a territorial authority — a local government area — rather than an independent city, so the comparison with Auckland, Hamilton or Christchurch is across different administrative tiers. Stats NZ's provisional estimates show Selwyn gained a net 1,800 people through internal migration from elsewhere in New Zealand, a natural increase of 730 births over deaths, and a net international gain of 30.

Growth across all 87 TALBs was concentrated in Auckland and the South Island, which together accounted for the ten fastest-growing areas in the country, Stats NZ said. Two-thirds of all TALBs recorded population growth over the period.

Wellington city recorded the largest population decrease of any city in the June year to 2026, falling 0.6% to an estimated 208,300 people. Dunedin followed with a 0.5% drop. Nelson, Palmerston North, and Napier each declined 0.2%, and Porirua fell 0.1%.

Both Dunedin and Nelson recorded natural decreases, with 90 more deaths than births in each city. Napier saw 10 more deaths than births. Stats NZ noted that areas with slower growth than in 2025 generally had higher proportions of residents aged 65 or older, pointing to ageing demographics as a structural factor.

Across all 87 TALBs, Kāpiti Coast district posted the country's largest natural decrease, with deaths outnumbering births by 200. Thames-Coromandel district was second at 160.

At the national level, New Zealand's population grew 0.7% in the year to June 2026, up from 0.6% in the prior year to June 2025. Natural increase — the excess of births over deaths — added 18,700 people across the country, the lowest annual figure since the early 1940s during the Second World War. Net international migration contributed a further 17,600 people to the national total.