Over half of Pacific peoples were born in New Zealand
At the time of the 2006 Census, six in 10 people of Pacific ethnicity were born in New Zealand. This is a similar proportion to that in 2001.
- Niueans were most likely to be New Zealand-born, at 74 percent.
- The majority (73 percent) of Cook Islands Maori people were also born in New Zealand.
People of Tuvaluan ethnicity were least likely to be New Zealand-born, at 37 percent.
Two in five overseas-born Pacific peoples arrived in New Zealand 20 or more years ago
Over half (60 percent) of overseas-born Pacific peoples arrived to live in New Zealand fewer than 20 years ago (that is, since 1986).
Of the seven largest Pacific ethnic groups, overseas-born Tuvaluans, Tongans and Fijians were the most likely to have arrived to live in New Zealand during this time period:
- 94 percent of Tuvaluans and 75 percent of Tongans and Fijians arrived fewer than 20 years ago.
Overseas-born Fijians were the most likely to have arrived to live in New Zealand less than one year before the 2006 Census, at 11 percent.
Some Pacific ethnic groups have been in New Zealand for a longer period of time:
- Overall, two in five overseas-born Pacific peoples arrived to live in New Zealand 20 or more years ago (that is, before 1986).
- Overseas-born Niuean and Cook Islands Maori people were the most likely to have arrived to live in New Zealand 40 or more years ago, at 17 percent for both these groups.