About Pacific Peoples
This section provides information to enhance understandings about Pacific peoples in New Zealand.
It includes links to statistics about Pacific peoples in New Zealand, to information about the history of Pacific peoples in New Zealand, and to Pacific governments' websites. It also provides a list of Pacific greetings, and links to websites where you can learn some Pacific languages.
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Who are the Pacific Peoples in New Zealand?
Finding more about Pacific peoples in New Zealand
Who are the Pacific Peoples in New Zealand?
According to the 2006 Census[1] there are almost 266,000 people of Pacific ethnicity living in New Zealand, an increase of 14.7% from the 2001 Census (232,000). Pacific people comprise 6.9% of the population compared with 6.5% in 2001. Currently, 59% are New Zealand born.
Pacific people in New Zealand are represented by at least 13 distinct languages and cultural groups. The Pacific population includes people born in the Pacific Islands and in New Zealand.
The many Pacific ethnicities are represented primarily by Samoan, Cook Islands, Tongan, Niuean, Fijian and Tokelauan groups, with smaller numbers from Tuvalu, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands and the small island states of Micronesia.
As shown in the 2006 Census, New Zealand’s Pacific population is young and diverse (the median age for Pacific peoples is 21 years compared with almost 36 years for the total population.) Pacific populations are growing at a faster rate (14.7%) than Māori (7.4%) and European (-9.1%).
Pacific peoples are concentrated within the regional areas of Auckland (66.9%), Wellington (13.1%), Waikato (4.4%) and Christchurch (4.1%).
[1] Statistics New Zealand Census 2006 and National Population Estimates, June 2007 quarter, Statistics New Zealand.
Finding more about Pacific peoples in New Zealand
You can find more information, including up-to-date data and
statistics about Pacific nations and Pacific peoples in New Zealand,
and the history of their settlement here, in the government websites
described below.
Statistics New Zealand
Statistics New Zealand collects, analyses and publishes official statistics on a range of economic and social matters of general importance to New Zealand.
You can find facts and figures relating to Pacific peoples living in New Zealand in reports by Statistics New Zealand, available on its website, www.stats.govt.nz
Two of the most recent releases about Pacific peoples are:
“QuickStats
About Pacific Peoples”, published in May 2008.
The QuickStats, drawn from the 2006 Census, provide information about Pacific
peoples who usually live in New
Zealand. They include data about the seven
largest Pacific ethnic groups: Samoan, Cook Islands Māori, Tongan, Niuean,
Fijian, Tokelauan and Tuvaluan.
Statistics New Zealand’s Pacific Profiles report on the seven largest Pacific peoples’ ethnic groups, based on the 2006 Census. The reports cover topics such as demographics, language, religion, families and households, income, housing and smoking behaviour.
Other reports by Statistics New Zealand will give you more detail on measures such as income levels, home ownership and employment rates (for example the Household Labour Force Surveys).
Te Puna Pacific Island Web Directory
www.webdirectory.natlib.govt.nz
Te Puna Web Directory is maintained by the National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa.
This website provides comprehensive links to a wide range of Pacific Island and New Zealand websites, to help libraries, readers and researchers meet their professional, educational, cultural and personal information needs.
Te Ara the Encyclopedia of New Zealand
This on-line encyclopedia, features New Zealand’s natural world, its places and its people. Te Ara’s “Peoples” pages give a history of immigration to New Zealand and the people who settled here, including Pacific peoples.
The Population and Sustainable Development website
This website is part of the Sustainable Development for New Zealand: Programme of Action. It provides access to New Zealand population statistics published by a wide range of government departments and agencies, and to current and emerging population issues in New Zealand.
Pacific Consultation Guidelines
Other documents published by the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs about Pacific peoples are available in our ‘OTHER RESOURCES’ pages. They include the Pacific Consultation Guidelines, which show how good consultation amongst Pacific peoples involves the creation and the maintenance of relationships – and offers enduring rewards.
Pacific Greetings
Kia orana, Fakaalofa lahi atu, Talofa lava, Gude tru olgeta, Taloha ni, Malo e lelei, Talofa, Ni sa bula vinaka, Kia ora and Warm Pacific Greetings!
Follow this link for generally-accepted greetings and salutations for both oral and written use, for seven Pacific languages. They are:
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Cook Island
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Niuean
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Samoan
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Solomon Island
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Tokelauan
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Tongan
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Tuvaluan.
Learn Pacific languages: some websites
The "Mind Your Language" websites developed by the Ministry in partnership with Pacific communities in New Zealand are on-line resources designed to help you learn the following languages:
Vagahau Niue - Learn Niue
Tuatua Mai - Learn Cook Island Maori
Tau Gagana Tokelau - Learn Tokelau
Pacific Island Governments
Follow these links to Pacific Island Government websites:
The Government of the Cook Islands: www.cook-islands.gov.ck
Fiji Government Online: www.fiji.gov.fj
Government of Niue: www.gov.nu
Samoa Government Website: www.samoa.ws/govtsamoapress
Office of the Governor American Samoa: www.asg-gov.com
Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau: www.visitsolomons.com.sb
Tonga Visitors Bureau: www.vacations.tvb.gov.to
Government of the Republic of Vanuatu: www.vanuatugovernment.gov.vu
In NZ:
Follow this link to contact Pacific nations' embassies and diplomats in New Zealand >>