11 New Zealand Population Q2 shows the typical seasonal drop in population growth with the average figure plateauing at 25,000 people per quarter. Almost three- quarters of this is due to net migration which topped 72,000 for the year to the end of June 2017. High population growth of course puts additional pressure on the need to increase the housing stock. Quarterly Change in National Population Annual Change in Population Population Change Composition Source: Statistics New Zealand