Who are New Zealand's Pacific people?

Embargoed until 10:45am – 31 August 2007

Who are New Zealand's Pacific people?

Pacific Profiles: 2006 is a series of seven reports, based on results of the 2006 Census, released today by Statistics New Zealand.

Each profile provides detailed information for the seven largest Pacific ethnic groups in New Zealand: Samoans, who make up the largest proportion (49 percent); Cook Island Maori (22 percent); Tongans (19 percent); Niueans (8 percent); Fijians (4 percent); Tokelauans (3 percent); and Tuvaluans (1 percent).

The profiles highlight trends within each Pacific ethnic group. They analyse each group's New Zealand-born and overseas-born populations and make comparisons with previous census data. They also highlight differences and similarities by comparing each Pacific ethnic group with the total Pacific and total New Zealand populations.

All seven Pacific ethnic groups have very youthful populations, with a large proportion under 15 years, and only a very small proportion over 65 years. This distinctive age structure contributes to many of the differences between Pacific peoples and the total New Zealand population, which has an older age structure.

Around three-quarters of the Cook Island Maori, Niuean and Tokelauan populations were born in New Zealand. New Zealand-born Samoans and Tongans accounted for 60 percent and 56 percent of their respective populations. Tuvaluans and Fijians had the lowest New Zealand-born proportions (37 percent and 44 percent, respectively).

Pacific language retention varied, with Samoans, Tongans and Tuvaluans having the highest proportions of people able to speak their own Pacific language. Cook Island Maori, Niueans, Fijians and Tokelauans had significantly lower rates – Cook Island Maori had the lowest, with only 16 percent able to speak Cook Island Maori, while around a quarter of Niueans and Fijians were able to speak their own languages.

All seven Pacific ethnic groups continue to live mainly in urban areas, and only the Tokelauan group did not have the majority residing in the Auckland region.

For all Pacific ethnic groups, those in the younger age groups are more likely to belong to more than one ethnic group.

The Pacific Profiles: 2006 reports are available on the Statistics New Zealand website, www.stats.govt.nz.

Cathryn Ashley-Jones
Acting Government Statistician

ENDS

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