Population Myths
Some nice work by the Government’s population website. They’ve done some pages on 12 common myths about population. A very user-friendly way to get information across:
Myth 1: Half of all marriages end in divorce
Myth 2: There was a surge of returning New Zealanders after 9/11
Myth 3: “The browning of New Zealand”
Myth 4: New Zealand women are now having their first baby at age 30
Myth 5: New Zealand’s population is only growing because of migration
Myth 6: “In 2003 four of every five pregnant Asian women aborted their babies”
Myth 7: The average life expectancy of males is 6 years less than females
Myth 8: New Zealand has 3 million people and 60 million sheep
Myth 9: The Brain Drain
Myth 10: There are at least 1 million New Zealanders living overseas
Myth 11: “There are more people alive now than have ever lived”
I should point out that not everything here is a myth per se. For example the increased migration home after 9/11 is inconclusive – with it likely there was some impact but that otehr factors are at play. Also one can dispute their brain drain arguments as they do not look just as NZ citizens migration in and out but also new immigrants. Just because our migration policy brings in skilled persons doesn’t mean we are not losing skilled persons. They would be on better ground if they looked at migrations flows of NZ citizens and non citizens.
Also it would be useful if they provided links to source material. But none the less still a good effort.
Hat Tip: Miramar Mike and Llew