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AUCKLAND is a magnet not only for new migrants but also for New Zealanders from the rest of the country.
Auckland's population is growing at three times the national average as people move to the city in Large numbers.
Statistics New Zealand figures show that Auckland's population grew 1.5 per cent to 1,193,000 in the previous 12 months.
At the other end of the scale, Southland lost 1100 residents, a drop of 1.2 per cent.
The average across all regions was a 0.5 per cent rise.
Most of those moving to Auckland cite better job prospects as the main reason for the shift.
Jeremy Gray moved from Christchurch a year ago, lured by better chances at a higher-paid job in IT.
"There's really no choice in the end," he said. "I'm the last one of my friends to go. They're all working overseas or in Auckland now."
Mr Gray said that if young people were ambitious they would almost certainly have to move to Wellington or Auckland to keep climbing the career ladder in most professions.
"If you're happy with a good solid job in the town or city you grew up in, then great. But if you want to take yourself to the top you have to get to Auckland sooner or later. You'll get left behind otherwise."
He enjoys the weather, the vibrancy and "the young moving vibe" of Auckland.
"It's a brain-drain within New Zealand," he said. "All the movers and shakers are moving and shaking on up to the north.
Though Southland showed the greatest drop in population, the decline appears to be slowing.
While the 1.2 per cent dip took the population to 92,900 at June 2000, in the 12 months before that the population shrank 1.8 per cent.
Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt - a former Aucklander - is pleased fewer people are leaving his region.
"Any improvement for the better is a good sign and is a reflection of the improving economy," he said.
The Deep South had two important advantages over the north of the north, Mr Shadbolt said. It was inexpensive and much less polluted.
An estimated 2,904,100 people were living in the North Island on June 30, up 0.7 per cent. The South Island was home to 926,900, up 0.1 per cent.
Almost 76 per cent of New Zealanders now live in the North Island, slightly up on 1999. More than half the national population live in the cities of Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Christchurch.
Centres above the average population rise included Tasman (1.5 per cent), Bay of Plenty (0.9) and Northland (0.6), while the Wellington region was almost static (0.1).
Regions to suffer losses included the West Coast (down 0.9 per cent) and Taranaki (down 1.1).