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 down.  

Massey University sociologist Paul Spoonley told Mike Hosking at some point the number of births will equal the number of deaths. 

He says that's never happened before, except for during one-off events like the Black Death in Europe. 

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