Drift to the north facts for kids

Drift to the north is a term used in New Zealand to describe when people move from the South Island to the country's biggest city, Auckland. Auckland is located in the northern part of the North Island. This movement of people within a country is called internal migration.

This term is often heard in cities like Christchurch and Dunedin. These cities have universities, and many students who finish their studies there often move to Auckland or to Wellington, New Zealand's capital city, which is also in the North Island.

What is the Drift to the North?

The "drift to the north" describes a long-term trend where more people have moved from the South Island to the North Island. This has caused the North Island's population to grow much faster than the South Island's.

Why Did People Move North?

For a long time, the South Island had a larger share of New Zealand's population. This was especially true in the late 1800s.

Gold Rush and Population Changes

After the Otago Gold Rush in the 1860s, many people moved to the South Island looking for gold. For a while, most of New Zealand's population lived there. However, over time, the North Island started to grow much faster.

One reason for this growth was that many new migrants coming to New Zealand, especially from the Pacific islands, often arrived in Auckland. This made Auckland a major entry point and a popular place to settle.

Today, the South Island has a much smaller percentage of New Zealand's total population. The phrase "The drift to the north" has been used to describe this population shift since at least 1916.

Is the Drift Still Happening?

Recent studies of New Zealand's population show that the "drift to the north" is slowing down. In fact, more people from the North Island are now choosing to move to the South Island. They are often drawn to beautiful areas like Central Otago, known for its stunning scenery.