New Zealand’s population stagnates

WELLINGTON: New Zealand’s population growth has come to a near halt, official statistics showed Monday, as tens of thousands of people exit a spluttering economy for pastures new.

Statistics New Zealand reported that population growth was a modest 0.1 percent in the second quarter, with the population of 5.3 million growing by a meagre 7,000.

Although New Zealand ranks highly in lists of the most desirable places in the world to live and work, in recent years the record numbers of arrivals have been matched by departures.

The kiwi, New Zealand’s national bird is famously flightless, but New Zealand’s people are anything but.

In the year to June, more than 130,000 people left the country, including about 45,000 to neighbouring Australia alone.