6 December 200606
Census Shows Accelerating Growth Across the Country
Results from the 2006 Census show that New Zealand's usually resident population grew faster between 2001 and 2006 than
in any five-year period between censuses in the last 30 years, Statistics New Zealand said today. In the five years to
2006, the population increased by 7.8 percent (to reach 4,027,947), compared with 3.3 percent between 1996 and 2001.
Census Shows Accelerating Growth Across the Country
Results from the 2006 Census show that New Zealand's usually resident population grew faster between 2001 and 2006 than
in any five-year period between censuses in the last 30 years, Statistics New Zealand said today. In the five years to
2006, the population increased by 7.8 percent (to reach 4,027,947), compared with 3.3 percent between 1996 and 2001.
All regional council areas showed population growth or had steady populations between 2001 and 2006, except for
Southland which had a marginal decline. This contrasts with the previous five years (1996–2001) when six regional
council areas showed population decline. The biggest increases between 2001 and 2006 were in the Auckland (up 12.4
percent) and Canterbury (up 8.4 percent) regions.
New Zealand's private occupied dwelling count also increased, from 1,359,843 in March 2001 to 1,471,746 in March 2006.
Two-thirds of private occupied dwellings were either owned by the household (54.5 percent) or held in a family trust
(12.3 percent). The remaining third (33.1 percent) were not owned by the household. In 2001, 32.2 percent of private
occupied dwellings were not owned by the household.
Significant changes in New Zealand's ethnic make-up included growth for Māori (up 7.4 percent since 2001 to reach
565,329) and Pacific peoples (up 14.7 percent since 2001 to reach 265,974). The Asian ethnic group had the biggest
growth since 2001, up 48.9 percent to reach 354,552. The Asian ethnic group now represents 9.2 percent of those who
stated their ethnicity.
'New Zealander' is published as a separate category for the first time in 2006, after previously being counted in the
European category. This ethnic group totalled 429,429 (11.1 percent) in 2006. European remains the largest of the major
ethnic groups, totalling 2,609,592 (67.6 percent) in 2006.
Other interesting trends include Internet and cellphone availability. Internet availability in households nearly doubled
between 2001 and 2006 – from 37.4 percent to 60.5 percent. The 2006 Census was the first to ask about the availability
of cellphones in households – 74.2 percent of households had access to cellphones.
For the first time, Statistics New Zealand has released summary census results on New Zealand's population and dwellings
in the same year as the census took place. Results include information about the characteristics of New Zealand's
population and dwellings, as well as regional data. More detailed information will follow in early 2007.
Brian Pink, Government Statistician, thanked people for their participation in the census, "every census adds to our
understanding of our country and people. The 2006 Census shows how New Zealand is changing significantly and indicates
where we are headed as a nation."
A range of information from the 2006 Census is available on the Statistics New Zealand website at www.stats.govt.nz.
Brian Pink
Government Statistician
ENDS