Newly released provisional estimates from Stats NZ show the country has experience rapid population growth after two years of shrinkage.

Auckland's population expanded the fastest in the year to June, with the region gaining 47,000 more people.

Otago, Waikato, and the Bay of Plenty also grew faster than the New Zealand average.

Infometrics principal economist Brad Olsen says Auckland's economy stands to benefit from an expanding workforce.

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