The Motu and Auckland University have found the top 10 fastest growing towns in New Zealand over the past 80 years.
They say town growth correlates with four major factors, one of which is sunshine hours.
Tauranga, one of the sunniest places in the country, is the fastest growing area. It has expanded by more that 4% per year on average over the measured period.
The next fastest growing town is Whakatane, which has grown by approximately 3% over the measured period. Â
All of the places on the list are in the North Island.Â
