Watch out for growing pains and mood swings: New Zealand's going through a sudden growth spurt.
The population is growing at its fastest rate in over a decade, according to just-released numbers from Statistics New Zealand.
In the year to June 2014, the population grew by 67,800 or 1.5 per cent.
It's the highest growth since 2003 - and almost twice as high as the annual average growth since 2006.
The country has got migration to thank for the growing population, with net migration almost five times higher than the previous year.
Net migration brought 38,000 more people into New Zealand in the year to June 2014 - the highest gain since October 2003 and much higher than the previous year's 7900.
Net migration is calculated by subtracting the number of departures from the number of arrivals.
Statistics released last month showed 100,800 migrants had arrived in the past year, the first time in New Zealand's history it has exceeded 100,000.
And figures show fewer Kiwis are crossing the ditch while more people move from Australia to New Zealand.
About 30,000 of the population growth was down to natural increase - or births minus deaths - which was down slightly on the year before.
NEW ZEALAND IN NUMBERS
* 4,509,900 - estimated population at June 2014
* 67,800 - growth in the June 2014 year
* 36,800 - average annual population growth (2006-2013)
* 38,300 - net migration for 2014
* 7900 - net migration for 2013
Source: Statistics New Zealand.
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