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Tables About New Zealand

Cultural diversity



Ethnic group   

   

Ethnic Groups in New Zealand,(1)(2) 2001–2006 Censuses
Ethnic groups
     
 
20012006
European
  2,871,432  2,609,589
Māori
  526,281  565,326
Pacific peoples
  231,798  265,974
Asian
  238,176  354,549
Middle Eastern/Latin American/African(3)
  24,084  34,746
Other ethnicity(4)
     New Zealander
...  429,426
     Other ethnicity–other
  801  1,494
     Total  801  430,878
Total people  3,586,644  3,860,163

1. All figures are for the census usually resident population count.
2. Includes all of the people who stated each ethnic group, whether as their only ethnic group or as one of several ethnic groups. Where a person reported more than one ethnic group, they have been counted in each applicable group.
3. 'Middle Eastern, Latin American and African' was introduced as a new category for the 2006 Census. Previously Middle Eastern, Latin American and African responses were allocated to the 'other ethnicity' category.
4. 'New Zealander' was included as a new category for the 2006 Census. New Zealander responses form part of the 'other ethnicity' category. For 2006, New Zealander responses made the largest contribution towards the 'other ethnicity' category. For 2001, New Zealander was counted in the 'European' category.

Symbol:
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Birthplace

Birthplace of People in New Zealand,(1) 1996–2006 Censuses
 
199620012006
New Zealand
  2,848,206  2,890,869  2,960,217
Australia(2)
  54,711  56,259  62,742
Pacific Islands(3)
  99,258  117,984  135,852
UK and Ireland
  230,049  225,123  251,688
Europe, excl UK and Ireland
  55,599  59,550  68,070
North America
  19,230  21,279  26,940
Asia
  117,918  165,774  251,130
Other
  28,293  52,659  83,121
Not elsewhere included(4)
  165,033  147,783  188,187
Total  3,618,303  3,737,277  4,027,947

1. All figures are for the census usually resident population count.
2. Includes Australian territories. 
3. Includes Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia.
4. The 1996 data includes 'not elsewhere classified'. The 2001 and 2006 data includes 'inadequately described' and 'not stated'.  


 

Birthplace of Māori in New Zealand,(1) 1996–2006 Censuses
 
199620012006
New Zealand
  506,847  513,126  547,302
Australia(2)
  4,281  4,932  5,973
Pacific Islands(3)
  1,059  609  543
UK and Ireland
  894  804  1,026
Europe, excl UK and Ireland
  186  162  165
North America
  348  348  432
Asia
  570  459  480
Other
  87  111  111
Not elsewhere included(4)
  9,099  5,730  9,294
Total  523,371  526,281  565,329

1. All figures are for the Māori ethnic group census usually resident population count.
2. Includes Australian territories. 
3. Includes Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia.
4. The 1996 data includes 'not elsewhere classified'. The 2001 and 2006 data includes 'inadequately described' and 'not stated'.

Languages spoken

Languages Spoken in New Zealand,(1)(2) 1996–2006 Censuses
 
199620012006
English
  3,290,454  3,425,304  3,673,626
Māori
  153,666  160,527  157,113
Samoan
  70,875  81,036  85,428
NZ Sign Language
  26,589  27,285  24,090
Other
  307,761  384,855  509,358
None(3)
  91,830  76,053  75,570
Total people  3,452,937  3,563,796  3,830,757

1. All figures are for the census usually resident population count.
2. Includes all of the people who stated each language spoken, whether as their only language or as one of several languages spoken. Where a person reported more than one language spoken, they have been counted in each applicable group.
3. Includes people who were 'too young to talk' or 'unable to speak a language'.

Languages Spoken by Māori in New Zealand,(1)(2) 1996–2006 Censuses
 
199620012006
English
  481,491  494,679  530,892
Māori
  129,033  130,485  131,610
Samoan
  3,765  4,077  3,693
NZ Sign Language
  6,261  6,549  5,538
Other
  8,733  9,063  9,264
None(3)
  23,154  17,376  15,576
Total people  516,744  518,727  554,355

1. All figures are for the Māori ethnic group census usually resident population count.
2. Includes all of the people who stated each language spoken, whether as their only language or as one of several languages spoken. Where a person reported more than one language spoken, they have been counted in each applicable group.
3. Includes people who were 'too young to talk' or 'unable to speak a language'.

Number of languages spoken

Number of Languages Spoken in New Zealand,(1) 1996–2006 Censuses
 
199620012006
None(2)
  91,458  75,189  75,195
One
  2,892,678  2,926,494  3,083,904
Two
  399,204  466,881  562,446
Three
  53,379  72,672  83,403
Four
  11,724  19,851  19,281
Five
  3,330  1,998  5,052
Six
  1,074  717  1,479
Not elsewhere included(3)
  165,450  173,481  197,190
Total  3,618,303  3,737,280  4,027,947

1. All figures are for the census usually resident population count.
2. Includes people who were too young to talk or unable to speak a language.
3. Data for 1996 includes 'not applicable' and 'not specified'. The 2006 and 2001 data includes 'response unidentifiable', 'response outside scope' and 'not stated'.

Number of Languages Spoken by Māori in New Zealand,(1) 1996–2006 Censuses
 
199620012006
None(2)
  23,046  17,190  15,462
One
  367,332  369,675  407,094
Two
  117,651  121,587  122,469
Three
  6,819  7,785  7,131
Four
  1,344  1,704  1,587
Five
  339  534  381
Six
  195  255  234
Not elsewhere included(3)
  6,648  7,551  10,974
Total  523,374  526,281  565,329

1. All figures are for the Māori ethnic group census usually resident population count.
2. Includes people who were too young to talk or unable to speak a language.
3. Data for 1996 includes 'not applicable' and 'not specified'. The 2006 and 2001 data includes 'response unidentifiable', 'response outside scope' and 'not stated'.

Note: This data has been randomly rounded to protect confidentiality. Individual figures may not add up to totals and values for the same data may vary in different tables.