NZ population growth fastest since 2003

5:22 pm on 14 August 2015

New Zealand's population is growing at its fastest rate for more than a decade, according to new statistics.

No caption

Photo: 123rf.com

The country's growth rate is also exceeding Australia's growth.

Statistics New Zealand said the country's population grew by 86,900 people, or 1.9 percent, in the year to the end of June.

There are now 4.6 million people estimated to be living here.

The latest figures show Australia's population growing at 1.4 percent a year.

Statistics New Zealand said the last time New Zealand's population grew at this rate was in 2003 when the increase was 2 percent.