Auckland population set to exceed 2 million with rise in ethnic minority groups
Tuesday, 3 October 2017
New Zealand's Asian community is set to double in the next 25 years, as growth of ethnic minority groups is expected to increase diversity in the country.
The latest projections released by Stats NZ predict the broad Asian population will rise from 540,000 in 2013 to 1.2 - 1.4 million in 2038.
Our Asian population is projected to be higher than Māori by 2023, becoming 22 per cent of the total population by 2038. However growth in Māori population will continue across all regions of the country, and could surpass 1 million by 2038.
The number of people with Pacific heritage is also estimated to rise significantly, from 340,000 in 2013 to 530,000–650,000 in 2038.
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In contrast, the proportion of European or other category is expected to fall from 75 per cent of New Zealand's population in 2013, to 66 per cent in 2038.
Population statistics senior manger Peter Dolan said the 'European or Other' population is still growing, but not as fast as other ethnic populations.
'The Māori, Asian, and Pacific populations are growing faster because of their younger age structures – combined with higher birth rates or migration,' he said.
New Zealand's total population could reach up to 6.3 million in 2038, with the number of people living in Auckland exceeding 2 million by the early 2030s.
The proportion of New Zealanders identifying with Māori, Asian, and Pacific ethnicities could increase all 16 regions over the same period. Whereas the 'European or Other' ethnic share is projected to fall in 14 of the 16 regions over the 25 year period.
Figures reported earlier this year suggested migrants are coming to New Zealand at nearly twice the rate as in Australia and more than three times the rate of the UK.
Parliamentary research, obtained by Labour, shows New Zealand took in, on average 14.7 people for every 1000 in our population during the year to June 30, 2016.
Of the developed countries New Zealand most often compares itself to, Australia took in the next largest amount at a rate of 7.5 per 1000 population.