David Blaker: Auckland growth predictions exaggerated  David
Blaker says the predicted 'extra million' residents by 2030 is
highly exaggerated.  According to David Blaker Auckland is a
special case. Photo / Peter Meecham  Debate over Auckland's
future has presented us with an unattractive choice: build up or
build out. Either a rash of high-rise in suburbia, or outwards
sprawl into surrounding farmland. But it's a false choice, based
on the Unitary Plan's belief that Auckland is " ... projected to
increase by one million over the next 30 years". This blunt
statement is contained in one sentence in section 1.3.1,
accompanied by not a scrap of supporting evidence.  Their
projection is unrealistic. Bernard Orsman's feature in the
Herald last week provides a breath of fresh air by taking a
critical look at the supposed reality of an extra one million,
leading to an Auckland population of around 2.5 million by 2030.
So what is the evidence? The basic facts are set out in
Statistics NZ's website and in their Yearb