Distribution of the population
Over three-quarters (76 percent) of the population live in the
North Island, and nearly a third (32 percent) in the Auckland region.
Reflecting the impact of migration, the population growth in the
Auckland region accounted for half (50 percent) of the total population
growth between the 2001 and 2006 censuses.
The Māori population is heavily
concentrated in the North Island (87 percent), but only 24 percent of Māori live in the Auckland region.
The New Zealand population is highly urbanised. At the 2006
Census, 86 percent of the population was living in an urban area. This
includes 72 percent living in main urban areas (population of 30,000 or
more), 6 percent living in secondary urban areas (10,000–29,999) and 8
percent living in minor urban areas (1,000–9,999).
There are marked ethnic differences in urbanisation, with the
vast majority of Pacific peoples, Asian and Other ethnic groups living
in main urban areas and very few in rural areas.
Table P2 Urban and rural residence
(%), by ethnic group, 2006
| |
European |
Māori |
Pacific peoples
|
Asian |
Other |
Total |
| Main urban area (30,000+) |
69 |
65 |
92 |
94 |
91 |
72 |
| Secondary urban area (10,000–29,999) |
7 |
7 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
6 |
| Minor urban area (1,000–9,999) |
9 |
13 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
8 |
| Total urban |
84 |
84 |
97 |
98 |
96 |
86 |
| Rural |
16 |
16 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
14 |
| Total |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
100 |
Source: Statistics New Zealand, 2006 Census,
unpublished data
Note: New Zealander is included in European
|
