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Cities help rural growth

RURAL areas close to cities are the fastest growing in New Zealand and have populations with the highest incomes, a new report from Statistics New Zealand shows. New Zealand: An Urban/Rural Profile is the first analysis of rural and urban areas for over 20 years.

According to the the report while populations in rural areas close to cities were up 33.3 per cent between 1991 and 2001, more remote rural areas' populations were down 5.9 per cent in the same period. People in rural areas close to cities had an average weekly income of $631 in June 2003, compared with the New Zealand average of $539 weekly.

Those in main urban areas also had higher average incomes ($549 weekly), and the greatest ethnic diversity. Smaller urban centres had lower incomes and higher rates of deprivation, especially in parts of the North Island.

Main urban areas have been very successful in attracting young people with these areas having the highest proportion of people aged 15 to 24 years (14.6 per cent).