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Kōrero: Scandinavians

Scandinavian-born population in New Zealand, by country of origin, 1881–2023

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Danes have traditionally dominated Scandinavian migration to New Zealand. In the 19th century they made up around half of all Scandinavian arrivals. Their dominance increased with new arrivals in 1950s, following the Second World War. Finns first appeared in 1921, after Finland’s declaration of independence in 1917. Prior to this, Finnish immigrants were probably classified as Russians. Swedish migrant numbers grew significantly from the early 1980s, overtaking Danish migrants in the 2010s.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

Source: New Zealand census 1881–2023

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Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Carl Walrond, Scandinavians – 20th-century migration, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/interactive/1229/scandinavian-born-population-in-new-zealand-by-country-of-origin-1881-2023 (accessed 4 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Carl Walrond, i tāngia i te 4 March 2009, updated 1 September 2024.