The latest population trend is bad news for eligible Bay bachelorettes - the man drought is getting worse.
The 2006 census figures show the region's sex ratio - the number of men per 100 women - has dropped from 96 men to 100 women in 1996, to about 94 men to 100 women.
Nationally, the figures have remained steady at 95 men to 100 women.
The news comes as no surprise to Napier woman Leslie Davies. The 40-year-old administration manager made a courageous return to the dating scene after her marriage ended in 2003.
"It's very very dry out there," she said.
Not only were there noticeably few available men, but the quality left women wanting.
"Men here are either very boring, or have quite a few hang-ups," she said.
And this woman speaks from experience.
You name it, Ms Davies has tried it in her effort to find a decent bloke - internet dating ("which I wouldn't recommend to anybody because there's a lot of con artists out there"), personal ads ("which was fun but attracted a few drop-kicks") and group dating ("with lots of nice men, and several nice women for friendships as well").
Perhaps the only thing she hasn't tried is speed dating. "But I'll give anything a go."
Ms Davies said men often stumbled at the first hurdle - talking about their previous relationships on a first date - which she found off-putting.
"When they start going 'My ex this and my ex that' I wonder 'Who are you having a relationship with'?"
Some men acted single, but had wives or partners waiting at home - others simply weren't ready for a relationship, she said.
Ms Davies said there were plenty of women in her boat - attractive middle-aged divorcees who had come to terms with their marriage break-up, and were ready to meet somebody new.
There just weren't enough eligible members of the opposite sex to go around.
"My friends always say there's someone just around the corner. I say 'How long's this corner?' Because I'm tired of it."
Speaking at a Population Association of NZ conference in Wellington this week, demography analyst Robert Didham cited reports of women lamenting not a lack of men, but a lack of suitable men.
He said there was a similar sentiment in Alaska, where men greatly outnumber women.
"Somebody had quipped that the odds are good, but the goods are odd."
The odds are not good ... and the goods are odd for Leslie
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