New Census data revealed that the Maori descent population is growing at double the rate of the New Zealand population, with one in five Kiwis identifying as Maori.
The first 2023 Census data shows Maori are also a significantly younger population than the total New Zealand population. The median age is 27.2, more than a decade younger than the wider population’s median age of 38.1.
The data shows 19.6 per cent – or 978,246 – of Aotearoa New Zealand’s population are of Maori descent, an increase of 12.5 per cent since 2018.
The entire New Zealand population increased by 6.3 per cent over the same period.
Maori comprise an even larger proportion of Aotearoa New Zealand’s younger population, with nearly one in three under 25-year-olds identifying as Maori.
A Transformative Shift
Te Kāhui Raraunga Pou Arahi/Aho Tapu, Kirikowhai Mikaere says the newly released Maori descent data highlights a “transformative shift in the make-up of Aotearoa”.
“What the 2023 Census data shows us is that our Maori population is young, resilient, and rapidly growing.
“This would suggest that we will see Maori become a dominant part of the future workforce of Aotearoa, enhancing diversity, promoting new ideas, and stimulating creative solutions across industries.
“Increasingly, we will also see Maori influence market trends and cultural norms as we continue to make up a larger percentage of Aotearoa New Zealand’s total population.”
Mikaere says the data insights reinforce the importance of social investment that directly benefit Maori.
“To invest in Maori means to invest in education, employment, innovation and economic development. It is our youthful, adaptable population that will play a crucial role in Aotearoa New Zealand’s growth and advancement.
“All of Aotearoa will prosper if we ensure Maori have the resources and opportunities to reach our full potential and drive progress as a country.
“The release of today’s data will provide iwi and Maori with the information and overdue insights needed to lead conversations with Government, funders and strategic partners to help ensure investment is being made in the areas it’s needed most.
“Equally, it will enable iwi to make informed decisions about everything from future investment, the provision of te reo Maori classes as an example, through to building and infrastructure requirements on their whenua.”
Te Whata insights
In a significant milestone, today’s first 2023 Census data insights have been released on Te Whata – a by iwi, for iwi data platform developed by Te Kahui Raraunga, the operational arm of the Data Iwi Leaders Group. This is the first time Census data has been released on a non-government platform.
2023 Census Iwi affiliation data will be released on 26 September and 31 October on Te Whata, where more detailed data across Census variables will be analysed and surfaced with, by, and for Iwi.
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