Relevance

The ability to speak the language of one's identified ethnicity is an indicator of the ability to retain and pass on one's culture and traditions to future generations. Language is a central component of cultural identity.

Current Level

In 2001, the proportion of people who could hold an everyday conversation in the 'first language' of their ethnic group varied widely between ethnic groups, from 17 percent of Cook Island Māori to 81 percent of Koreans. In all ethnic groups, those who were born in New Zealand were less likely to be able to speak the 'first language' than those who were born overseas.

Figure CI3.1   Proportion of people who could speak the 'first language' of their ethnic group, by birthplace, 2001 Born in New Zealand
Source: Statistics New Zealand, 2001 Census, unpublished data.

Age And Sex Differences

In all ethnic groups, young people were less likely than older people to be able to hold an everyday conversation in the 'first language' of their ethnic group. The proportions were similar for males and females.

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, 2001

	Age (years)			Sex		Total
	0-24	25-49	50+	Males	Females
	%	%	%	%	%	%
Pacific peoples
Samoan	50	75	89	61	64	62
Cook Island Māori	7	26	53	16	18	17
Tongan	44	66	73	53	54	54
Tokelauan	27	57	76	38	43	40
Niuean	13	38	61	24	27	26
Fijian (except Fiji Indian/Indo-Fijian)	14	36	50	26	26	26
Asian
Indian	50	70	74	61	63	62
Chinese	59	75	82	67	71	69
Khmer/Kampuchean/Cambodian	67	85	87	73	79	76
Vietnamese	60	82	84	69	74	72
Korean	78	84	84	80	82	81
European
Dutch/Netherlands	21	63	81	59	60	59
Greek (incl Greek Cypriot)	27	73	89	64	61	63
Croat/Croatian	41	70	81	66	63	65
Italian	13	44	70	39	35	37

Source: Statistics New Zealand, 2001 Census, upublished data.

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