Southland is one of five regions in New Zealand with a declining population, according to new figures.

The net migration loss to other parts of NZ was 400 people (June 2021-June 2022), meaning overall 400 more went to live elsewhere than moved into Southland. 

And the net migration loss to overseas was 60 people. 

Southlanders who remained did manage to have enough babies to ensure there was no 'natural decrease' - there were 240 more births than deaths. 

On the whole, that means the population decline in Southland is only 0.1% on 2021 figures. In 2021, it was 0.3%

The Stats NZ figures show Auckland, Wellington, Nelson and the West Coast are also experiencing population decline. 

For most other regions, their populations were growing, but at a slower rate than the previous year. 

Nationally, annual population growth has slowed over the last two years, dropping from 2.2 percent in the June 2020 year, to 0.4 percent in the June 2021 year, and to 0.2 percent in the June 2022 year, the lowest since the late 1980s.

"Slowing regional growth reflects what is happening nationally, particularly annual net migration loss, partly due to the impact of COVID-19 on international migration," Stats NZ population estimates and projections acting manager Rebekah Hennessey said.

"This net migration loss was combined with the lowest natural increase since World War II."

Population change is the result of natural increase (births minus deaths) and net migration (migrant arrivals minus migrant departures). For subnational areas, migration comprises both external (international) migration and internal migration (people moving between areas within New Zealand).

Internal migration was the main driver of population change in 12 of the 16 regions, while natural increase was the main driver in the other four. No regions had international migration as the main driver of population change in the June 2022 year.

Two regions – West Coast and Marlborough – experienced natural decrease (more deaths than births) in the June 2022 year. These regions have more older people, with 23% of their population aged 65 years and over. New Zealand overall had 16 % of its population aged 65 years and over at 30 June 2022.