If you’ve noticed a few more people in the supermarket queue or a bit more traffic on Whangaparāoa Road, you’re not imagining it.

Stats NZ has confirmed that New Zealand’s resident population was sitting at 5,324,700 as of 30 June 2025.

That’s an increase of 34,700 people over the past year.

Most of that growth came from more babies being born than people passing away, adding 21,000 to the total.

Net migration accounted for the rest, with 13,700 more arrivals than departures.

But here’s a twist: in the most recent quarter, more people actually left the country than arrived, leaving migration at -200.

Even with that growth, New Zealand still sits around 124th in the world by population—tiny on the global scale.

So what might this mean closer to home?

On the Hibiscus Coast, more families could add pressure to housing in Millwater and Orewa, while schools may see busier classrooms.

Health providers could also feel the demand as our population steadily ages.

The median age is now just under 39 for women and 37 for men, pointing to more grandparents living nearby and more Coasties needing regular healthcare.

It’s a reminder that while our numbers creep up, we’re still small enough that you’ll likely bump into a familiar face at Coast Plaza or at the beach.

Growth may be steady, but community is still close.

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