It wasn't long ago that New Zealand was seen as one of the most desirable places to live in the world. Our migration levels were high, people were choosing to stay, and there was a sense that the population was steadily growing and becoming more diverse.
Now, only a few years later, the picture looks quite different.
Growth has slowed, more New Zealanders are heading overseas, particularly to Australia, and the country is now facing the real possibility of population stagnation.
That raises big questions about what this means for our economic resilience, our workforce and the long-term shape of our communities.
To help make sense of it all Emile Donovan speaks to distinguished professor emeritus and research director at Massey University, Paul Spoonley.
Sociologist Paul Spoonley Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
