First Information from 2001 Census
2001 Census of Population and Dwellings - Provisional Results: 2001
First Information from 2001 Census
The provisional population of New Zealand on Census Night, 6 March 2001, was 3,792,654, according to the first
information released today by Statistics New Zealand from the thirty-first New Zealand Census of Population and
Dwellings.
This was an increase of 111,108 people or 3.0 per cent since the 1996 Census, said Deputy Government Statistician Dianne
Macaskill and compared with an increase of 246,597 or 7.2 per cent between the 1991 and 1996 Censuses.
Seventy-five per cent of the provisional Census Night population was in the North Island, where the population increased
by 99,933 or 3.6 per cent to 2,849,721. In the South Island, the five-year intercensal increase was 11,391 or 1.2 per
cent to 942,213.
The Deputy Government Statistician said the excellent response from the people of New Zealand to the 2001 Census enabled
today's prompt release of information.
The provisional information released today includes occupied dwellings, the Census Night total population for New
Zealand and the population of regions and territorial authorities (cities and districts). Final counts will be available
in December and will differ from provisional counts due to the completion of field enquiries.
The trends in these figures are generally consistent with published population estimates based on the 1996 Census.
Regional Councils The Auckland Region had 30.7 per cent of New Zealand's Census Night provisional population and was the
region with the second fastest growing population since 1996. Tasman was the region with the fastest growing population
and increased by 10.9 per cent or 4,356 to 44,394. The Auckland Region's population increased by 8.2 per cent or 88,062
to 1,165,278.
Six regions showed declines in Census Night population compared with 1996, 3 in the South Island and 3 in the North
Island. The region which experienced the biggest decline was Southland, where the Census Night population fell 7.1 per
cent or 7,125 to 93,633. Other regions to experience a decline in Census Night population were Taranaki 4.5 per cent,
West Coast 4.3 per cent, Manawatu-Wanganui 4.1 per cent, Gisborne 3.8 per cent and Otago 0.1 per cent.
The four most populous regions were Auckland 1,165,278, Canterbury 491,565, Wellington 424,461 and Waikato 360,495.
Territorial Authorities Compared with 1996, two of the fastest growing territorial authorities are the South Island
tourist destinations of Queenstown-Lakes District and Kaikoura District. The provisional Census Night population in
Queenstown-Lakes District increased by 27.1 per cent or 5,379 to 25,206 and Kaikoura District increased by 7.9 per cent
or 318 to 4,359.
Other high growth districts were the coastal areas of Tauranga, where the Census Night population increased by 16.1 per
cent or 12,591, Tasman 10.9 per cent or 4,359 and Western Bay of Plenty 7.7 per cent or 2,727.
The cities in the Auckland area all had above average increases in Census Night population: Manukau City 10.6 per cent,
Waitakere City 8.3 per cent, North Shore City 7.5 per cent and Auckland City 6.4 per cent.
Districts surrounding cities continue to show strong population growth. These included Rodney District 14.5 per cent,
Waimakariri District 13.0 percent, Selwyn District 9.9 per cent and Kapiti Coast District with 8.5 per cent.
The territorial authority with the largest provisional percentage decrease in Census Night population over the past five
years was Ruapehu District with a decrease of 17.5 per cent or 3,216 people.
Invercargill City experienced the largest numerical decline in provisional Census Night population between 1996 and 2001
with a decrease of 3,468 people. Other cities and districts to show large decreases were Ruapehu District 3,216, Dunedin
City 2,874, South Taranaki District 2,076 and New Plymouth District 2,004.
The population of the major cities in descending order is: Auckland 377,382, Christchurch 322,188, Manukau 281,607,
North Shore 184,287, Waitakere 167,172, Wellington 165,945, Dunedin 116,739, Hamilton 114,975 and Lower Hutt 94,719.
Waitakere now has a larger population than Wellington and is now the fifth largest city.
The five most populous districts were Tauranga 90,912, Rodney 77,001, Hastings 68,904, Rotorua 68,553 and Whangarei
68,316.
The territorial authority with the smallest provisional Census Night population was the Chatham Islands District with
696 people. The next smallest were the Kaikoura and Mackenzie Districts with 4,359 and 5,187 people respectively.
Dwellings The provisional number of occupied dwellings in New Zealand on Census Night was 1,357,983. This was an
increase of 73,989 or 5.8 per cent compared with the 1996 Census. This compares with an 8.3 per cent increase between
the 1991 and 1996 Censuses.
The occupancy rate of dwellings has continued to fall. Whereas in 1996 the occupancy rate was 2.87 people per dwelling,
by 2001 it had dropped to 2.79 people per dwelling.
Dianne Macaskill DEPUTY GOVERNMENT STATISTICIAN END