Paul Spoonley: Massey University Sociologist on NZ's population increasing by 0.8% as the gap between birth and death rates narrow

The gap between the number of births and deaths is narrowing.  Latest Stats NZ data shows there was about 15 hundred fewer births in the year ending in March, and 170 more deaths.  The fertility rate has dropped from 1.58 births per woman to 1.53 and the infant mortality rate is also…