The shrinking capital

Stats NZ reports:

all territorial authorities (cities and districts) saw growth in their population, except Wellington city and the Chatham Islands territory

Wow that is almost unprecedented. Large cities almost always grow in population. To have no growth (in fact a small decline) over five years suggests things are very wrong.

Here’s the five year growth rates for other capital cities.

• Canberra +5.6%
• Ottawa +5.4%
• London +6.2%
• DC +0.3%
• Dublin +5.7%
• Wellington -0.0%

Might help if rates were not rising at 15% per annum!