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Kōrero: South Pacific peoples

Whārangi 3: Facts and figures

Ethnic identity

In the New Zealand census, people were asked to indicate the ethnic group or groups with which they identified. The numbers include those who indicated more than one group. 

Hawaiian

  • 2006 census: 279
  • 2013 census: 333
  • 2018 census: 429

Kiribati

  • 2006 census: 1,116
  • 2013 census: 2,115
  • 2018 census: 3,225

Nauruan

  • 2006 census: 90
  • 2013 census: 126
  • 2018 census: 135

Papua New Guinean

  • 2006 census: 687
  • 2013 census: 807
  • 2018 census:1,131

Pitcairn Islander

  • 2006 census: 201
  • 2013 census: 174
  • 2018 census: 216

Rotuman

  • 2006 census: 621
  • 2013 census: 783
  • 2018 census: 981

Tahitian

  • 2006 census: 1,329
  • 2013 census: 1,410
  • 2018 census: 1,737

Solomon Islander

  • 2006 census: 435
  • 2013 census: 600
  • 2018 census: 777

Tuvaluan

  • 2006 census: 2,625
  • 2013 census: 3,537
  • 2018 census: 4,653

Ni-Vanuatu

  • 2006 census: 240
  • 2013 census: 492
  • 2018 census: 990

Country of birth

The New Zealand census figures listed here show the number of residents born in South Pacific countries.

Kiribati

  • 2001 census: 504
  • 2006 census: 825
  • 2013 census: 1,473
  • 2018 census: 2,196

Papua New Guinea

  • 2001 census: 1,149
  • 2006 census: 1,251
  • 2013 census: 1,347
  • 2018 census: 1,482

Solomon Islands

  • 2006 census: 522
  • 2013 census: 618
  • 2018 census: 741

Tuvalu

  • 2001 census: 1,419
  • 2006 census: 1,227
  • 2013 census: 1,419
  • 2018 census: 1,854

Ni-Vanuatu

  • 2006 census: 312
  • 2013 census: 567
  • 2018 census: 1,206
Ki mua Whai muri: Whārangi 4. Hononga, rauemi nō waho Whai muri

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Carl Walrond, South Pacific peoples – Facts and figures, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/south-pacific-peoples/page-3 (accessed 5 June 2026).

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