Massive population growth predicted in Auckland

Regional council strategic policy director Craig Shearer said more than 100 newcomers crammed into the region each day on average in the past 18 months for a 3.1 per cent annual growth spiral.

The region's growth strategy, signed by all Auckland local bodies in 1999, envisaged an additional 900,000 newcomers by 2051.

Since then Auckland's population of 1.1 million has since swollen to 1.3 million after recent increases of 750 to 800 people a week, Mr Shearer told the regional land transport committee.

He said half of Auckland's growth was driven by immigration, which planners had no way of knowing would continue at current levels.

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