NZ population reaches 4.27 million

The New Zealand population is growing and has reached 4.27 million, Statistics New Zealand says.

The resident population has expanded by an extra 40,300 people in the year to June.

Government statistician Geoff Bascand said the main contribution to the growth was 35,000 babies born during the year - up by 2000 births from the year before.

However, population growth was lower in the June 2008 year compared with the previous year, because of a fall in net migration.

Mr Bascand said the median age for men was 35.4-years-old, and women was 37.2-years-old .

- NZPA