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Language retention

Definition

The proportion of people who can speak the “first language” (excluding English) of their ethnic group, for ethnic groups (other than Māori) with an established resident population in New Zealand, as recorded in the 2006 Census.

The ability to speak a first language is defined as being able to hold an everyday conversation in that language. First language refers to a language associated with a given ethnicity, as opposed to the first language of a person. Sign language is not treated as a first language for the purposes of this indicator.

Relevance

The ability of people to speak the language of their identified ethnicity is an indicator of the ability of ethnic groups to retain and pass on their culture and traditions to future generations. Language is a central component of cultural identity.

Current level and trends

In 2006, the proportion of people who could hold an everyday conversation in the first language of their ethnic group varied widely between ethnic groups, from 16 percent of Cook Islands Māori to 84 percent of Koreans. Between 2001 and 2006, most ethnic groups experienced little change in the proportion of people who could speak their first language, although there were slight increases for the Tongan, Indian and Korean ethnic groups and slight decreases for most Pacific and European ethnic groups.

Figure CI3.1 Proportion of people who could speak the first language of their ethnic group, 2001 and 2006

Figure CI3.1 Proportion of people who could speak the first language of their ethnic group, 2001 and 2006

Source: Statistics New Zealand, Census of Population and Dwellings, unpublished data

For all ethnic groups, those who were born in New Zealand were considerably less likely to be able to speak the first language of their ethnic group than those who were born overseas.

Figure CI3.2 Proportion of people who could speak the first language of their ethnic group, by birthplace, 2006

Figure CI3.2 Proportion of people who could speak the first language of their ethnic group, by birthplace, 2006

Source: Statistics New Zealand, Census of Population and Dwellings, unpublished data

Age and sex differences

In all ethnic groups, younger people were less likely than older people to be able to hold an everyday conversation in the first language of their ethnic group.

In Pacific and Asian ethnic groups, females tended to be slightly more likely than males to speak the first language of their ethnic group, but the reverse was true in most European ethnic groups.

Table CI3.1 Proportion (%) of people in selected ethnic groups who can speak the first language of their ethnic group, by age group and sex, 2006

Ethnic group Age group (years) Sex Total
0–24 25–49 50+ Male Female
Pacific
Samoan 46 71 88 58 60 59
Cook Islands Māori 6 23 50 15 17 16
Tongan 45 69 79 55 57 56
Niuean 10 34 61 22 24 23
Tokelauan 22 53 77 35 38 37
Fijian 16 35 48 27 27 27
Asian
Chinese 60 75 83 68 72 70
Indian 53 71 79 63 67 65
Cambodian 63 84 87 71 77 74
Vietnamese 62 80 84 68 75 72
Korean 81 87 89 83 85 84
European
Dutch 20 62 80 58 58 58
Greek 23 66 86 59 58 58
Croatian 30 62 80 61 56 58
Italian 13 46 67 38 36 37

Source: Statistics New Zealand, Census of Population and Dwellings, unpublished data

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