WELLINGTON, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Earthquakes have had a significant impact on the make-up and distribution of people in Canterbury in New Zealand's South Island, Minister supporting Greater Christchurch Regeneration Nicky Wagner said on Sunday.
"As many of us who live in the region have seen first-hand," there has been a significant population shift from Christchurch, the South Island's largest city, to the neighboring Selwyn and Waimakariri districts, Wagner said in a release.
At least three major earthquakes struck the Canterbury region over the past seven years.
Although Christchurch's central city population is still well below 2010 levels, various projects make the central city an increasingly attractive place to live, work and play, Wagner said.
Greater Christchurch is also more ethnically diverse than it once was, she said, adding that while many places around the country are in the midst of a "man drought," Christchurch has almost 6,000 more young men aged 20-29 than women of the same age.
The Urban Development Indicators report and recent Greater Christchurch Monitoring Report both utilize population data to contribute to and inform long-term planning around land use, housing, consents and transport.
