Christchurch's population continues to decline.
According to Statistics New Zealand, the city's population decreased by 4600 people in the year to June 2012, on top of an approximate 8900 in 2011.
Since the spate of earthquakes that began in September 2010, the overall population of Christchurch city has dropped by 13,500.
Population statistics manager Andrea Blackburn attributes the decline to an outflow of children and their parents after the earthquake, and fewer young adults arriving to study.
Rural townships like Selwyn, Hurunui and Ashburton have all grown because of people relocating from the city.
