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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Source: Statistics New Zealand, Census of Population and Dwellings, unpublished data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Source: Statistics New Zealand, Census of Population and Dwellings, unpublished data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
Ethnic group	0–24	25–49	50+	Male	Female	Total
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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