Profile of the South Island’s Pacific People

South Island Pacific population distribution

According to the 2006 Census, there were 17,496 Pacific people residing in the South Island.  Over 60% of them live in the Canterbury region. The breakdown for other regions (2006 Census) is as follows:

• West Coast – 2%
• Otago – 18%
• Southland – 8%
• Tasman – 2%
• Nelson 4%
• Marlborough 4%

Figure 1

Going by the 2006 census, the total percentage increase in Pacific people for the South Island was 25%. Although their Pacific numbers are relatively small, some South Island regions recorded the highest regional rates of increase for Pacific people in the country. Among them:

• Marlborough registered a 57% increase
• Tasman increased by 51%
• West Coast by 49%
• and Canterbury by 27%

Figure 2

Pacific ethnic groups in the South Island

The distribution of Pacific ethnic groups in the South Island reflects national trends.

• Samoans accounted for 53% of the total number of Pacific Islanders living in the South Island
• Cook Islanders made up 22%
• Tongans 14%
• Niueans 6%
• Fijians 5%
• Tokelauans 2%
• and smaller Pacific Island ethnicities collectively made up 5%.

Education and Youth Development

In the South Island the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs has been active in initiating, promoting, and supporting projects that enhance the educational achievement of young Pacific people. Census results indicate that Pacific people in the South Island tend to perform better than the national (Pacific) average. However, the statistics also show that more effort is needed to close the gap with the national (mainstream) average:

• About 29% of Pacific peoples in the South Island had no formal qualifications.
• About 40% had secondary school qualifications.
• About 14% had vocational qualifications.
• Only 6% had a bachelor degree or higher.