Number of babies born in Tauranga increases

Otumoetai mother-of-three Gabby Keil with the latest addition to her family, 5-month-old son Isaac Beswick. Photo/George Novak

The migration of more families to Tauranga has seen a sharp increase in the number of babies born in the city.

Almost 200 more babies were born in the city last year compared with four years ago.

New data from Statistics New Zealand showed births in Tauranga increased from 1569 in 2013 to 1752 last year - an extra 183 babies for the city.

Deaths also increased from 978 to 1200 during the same period.

In the 12 months to June 30, 2017, Tauranga's estimated population swelled by 3300 people to 131,500, mainly driven by more people moving to the city from elsewhere in New Zealand or from overseas.

The Western Bay had 561 births last year and 402 deaths, compared with 516 births and 366 deaths in 2013.

Statistics New Zealand spokesman Kim Dunstan said the increase in births reflected Tauranga's growing population, and the increase in the number of deaths could be linked to a growing elderly population moving to the city.

All regions across the county had more births than deaths in 2017.

The Bay of Plenty, Waikato, Gisborne and Wellington regions had natural increase rates higher or the same as all New Zealand, whereas Auckland hit a 10-year low last year in terms of babies born.

Tauranga Mayor Greg Brownless said the baby boom was good news for Tauranga, which "definitely needed more people" who in years to come would eventually join the workforce and contribute to the economic growth in the city

Having more young people around also added to the vitality and general health and well-being of the city's residents, he said.

Overall there were 59,160 births registered in New Zealand last year, a 3 per cent increase from 2016.

Tauranga mother-of-three has her hands full

Tauranga mother-of-three Gabby Keil has her hands full with two young babies and a primary school-aged child in the household.

But Keil said she would not have it any other way, apart from wishing she had all three children much closer together.

Keil, 28, and partner Craig Beswick, 39, who live in Otumoetai, are parents to 5-month old Isaac, 21-month-old Vienna-Rose and 9-year-old daughter Melah.

The stay-at-home mum said the decision to delay having more babies was mainly due to financial reasons.

She and Beswick wanted to buy their own home and be more financially secure before adding to their family, Keil said.

"It's definitely full-on having two babies and a 9-year-old in the house and juggling all those commitments including taking Melah to school and after-school activities, then having to switch back to nappies - feeding and bath time isn't easy."