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Story: Samoans

Samoan population in New Zealand, 1961–2018

g-1566-enz-data.txt
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This graph shows the rapid increase in the Samoan population in New Zealand from 1961, and the increasing numbers of those with Samoan ethnicity who are New Zealand-born. Figures for ethnicity are only available from 1991.

Using this item

Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

Source: New Zealand census, 1961–2018

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

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How to cite this page

Lupematasila Melani Anae, Samoans – History and migration, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/interactive/1566/samoan-population-in-new-zealand-1961-2018 (accessed 24 June 2026).

Story by Lupematasila Melani Anae, published 4 March 2009, reviewed and revised 7 September 2022 with assistance from Lupematasila Melani Anae.

Comments

Caroline Toeava
01 July 2011
Hi my name is Carloine Toeava, and im doing a research based on Samoan Migration. i would love it if there were more statistics on Samoa migrating to New Zealand! the whole point of my research is to prove that N.Z is not the land of milk and honey that Samoans make it out to be, although i was born in N.z and find myself as a N.Z citizen, im a Samon at HEART and would LOVE to learn my home culture. I speak the Samoan language fluently, i feel that the more Samoans migrate to N.Z the more they become unfamiliar with the Samoan CUSTOMS AND LANGUAGE!