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Story: Women and men

Colonial gender balance

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Males outnumbered females in New Zealand's population until the early 20th century. In 1862, the year records began, 70% of adult Pākehā New Zealanders were male. Their numerical dominance continued for decades. 

Using this item

Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

Source: Statistics New Zealand

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How to cite this page

Charlotte Macdonald, Women and men – Colonial beginnings: 1840s–1880s, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/graph/29209/colonial-gender-balance (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Charlotte Macdonald, published 30 March 2011, updated 1 August 2017.