The image depicts a stylised map of New Zealand, created using illustrations of numerous small, colourful human figures. The figures are arranged to form the shape of the country. The background consists of a large yellow shape that outlines the map of New Zealand, set against a red background with small white cross symbols scattered around.
Image: Getty Images; The Spinoff

SocietyMay 29, 2024

12 things we learned from Census 2023

Wellington editor
The image depicts a stylised map of New Zealand, created using illustrations of numerous small, colourful human figures. The figures are arranged to form the shape of the country. The background consists of a large yellow shape that outlines the map of New Zealand, set against a red background with small white cross symbols scattered around.
Image: Getty Images; The Spinoff

The first lot of data is out from last year’s census – here’s what you need to know.

1. New Zealand had a resident population of 4,993,923 on census day, an increase of 6.3% since 2018. That’s still fewer people than sheep, but we are creeping ever closer to the day when we will be strong enough to free ourselves from the oppression of our woolly overlords. It’s also down from the 10.8% growth rate recorded between the 2013 and 2018 censuses.

2. New Zealanders are getting older. The median age is 38.1, up from 37.4 in 2018. That means if you remember Kurt Cobain being alive, you’re officially over the hill. 

3. For Māori, the median age is 27.2, so if you remember Ben Lummis being relevant, you’re officially old. 

4. One in five New Zealanders are of Māori descent and the total Māori population is edging towards one million (978,246). If every person of Māori descent chipped in $1, they still wouldn’t be able to buy an average house in Auckland. 

5. New Zealand is becoming more diverse. Pākehā are still the largest ethnic group at 67.8%, but saw just 2.8% population growth. That’s dwarfed by the population growth for Māori (14.4%), Pacific peoples (16%) and Asian (21.8%). The fastest growing ethnical group of all, with growth of 31.9%, is the very logical and universally recognised grouping of MELAA (Middle Eastern/Latin American/African). 

6. 33.2% of New Zealanders live in Auckland (1,656,486 people), where they spend the majority of their lives stuck in motorway traffic. 

7. The Pākehā population in Auckland has dropped to 49.8%, officially making white people a minority in our biggest city. 

8. Auckland’s growth rate halved compared to the previous census (from 11% to 5.4%), but neighbouring Waikato and Northland both saw big jumps, a sign of the obvious appeals of not living in Auckland. 

9. The South Island population is growing at a faster rate than the North Island (7.3% vs 5.9%). Expect to hear mainlanders banging on about that for the next few years. 

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    10. The Tasman region had the largest population growth, up 10.3%, driven by a boom of retirees and punishing English TV hosts opening terrible cafes. It’s also the second-oldest region, behind only the West Coast. 

    11. Canterbury also saw a big increase in population, at 8.6%. Cantabrians will be busy trying to figure out where all those new residents went to school. 

    12. Bad news for Wellington on the population front. It had the second-lowest regional population growth, just 2.8%. And within Wellington city, it’s even worse, with a total population decrease of 48 people (the only other council area to show a decrease was the Chatham Islands). You can’t keep resting on your laurels, Wellington! You haven’t added a new bucket fountain in over 50 years. 

    Keep going!