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NEARLY a year after the population topped four million, a poll shows most are happy for it to stop right there. And just over half said that there were too many immigrants being accepted.
A New Zealand Herald DigiPoll of 800 people that asked whether New Zealand needed a larger population revealed 60 per cent of people were against it.
Those under 40, women and Maori were more vehemently opposed, and the only group strongly supporting a larger population was Asians, with two-thirds saying the country needed more people.
Seventy per cent of those under 40 thought New Zealand had enough people. In comparison, just 48 per cent of those over 65 held the same view.
Voters across the political spectrum were united in their opinions, with more than half the supporters of every party saying no to more people.
But there was slightly stronger support for a higher population among right-wing voters. Forty five per cent of ACT voters and 44 per cent of National said it should be bigger.
Over half the population (54 per cent) said New Zealand was admitting too many immigrants.
Although 72 per cent of the Greens thought the population should not be increased, only 53 per cent thought too many immigrants were being allowed in.
People above 40, Maori and Pacific Islanders and New Zealand First voters were the strongest anti-immigration groups.
There was a huge split in answers to questions about levels of immigration from Asia and South Africa.
About 52 per cent said there were too many Asian immigrants, including nearly 40 per cent of Asians polled.
South Africans were given an easier ride, with only 20 per cent saying there were too many of them here.
Statistics New Zealand projects the population will peak in 2046 at 4.8 million before dropping back to 4.4 million by 2101.