As the Hamilton population surges, with an increase in age and single households, the city council has been prompted to change their long-term housing plan.
Hamilton is tipped to be one of New Zealand’s fastest growing cities, despite the covid-19 set back.
Waikato University associate profession in economics Michael Cameron said the “overall picture” shows a continual population growth for the city.
However, this growth is expected to slow in the coming decades as the population ages.
“In Hamilton, our younger age profile means that we are somewhat protected from that for some time and it’s not until the very end of the projections that we get to the point where the number of births and deaths actually matches,” Cameron said.
Hamilton’s population is set to increase from its current-day total of 172,000 to about 200,000 by 2030. The same projections show the population reaching 268,000 by 2063.
The demographic of the city is also expected to age with a decline in the younger population having families.
This ageing population will have a significant impact on the profile of households, with large increases in the number of residents living alone and couples living together without children.
These housing projections are prompting a discussion on city housing, says City Councillor Dave Macpherson.
“We probably want accommodation that suits these types of families going forward in the future,” Macpherson said.
