Photo: Getty Images / FileOver the past decade, New Zealand's fertility rate has plummeted. As recently as 2010, the rate here was about 2.17 births per woman: meaning fertility rates have declined by a quarter in a single decade. Last year, more women over the age of 40 gave birth than did those under the age of 20. "When you think about that birth rate of 1.61 in 2020 ... in five years' time, it's going to impact on the number of kids arriving at primary school. "In 20 years’ time it'll impact upon the number of kids at university, or in the labour market.

Source: Otago Daily Times March 01, 2021 18:56 UTC