Who are New Zealand's Asian people?
Asian people are the New Zealanders who identify with or feel they belong to one or more Asian ethnicities. The largest ethnicity among Asian people is Chinese, followed by Indian, Korean, Filipino, Japanese, Sri Lankan, Cambodian and Thai.
In New Zealand, ethnicity is self-defined and people can and do belong to more than one ethnic group. Asian is one of the five top level categories currently used in New Zealand to identify ethnicity (European, Māori, Pacific peoples, Asian and Other).
What are Asian population statistics used for?
Statistics about the New Zealand Asian population are used to count, estimate and project the Asian ethnic group and the dwellings, locations and environments that Asian people live in.
They are also used to describe the characteristics of the Asian population (eg age, sex, educational qualifications), and to compare the Asian ethnic group with the total New Zealand population, and with other ethnic groups.
Resources
Asian People
Selected tables from the 2006 Census of Population and Dwellings. Published by Statistics New Zealand.
National and Subnational Asian Population Projections
The link leads to the latest ethnic population projections, including projections for people of Asian ethnicity. Published by Statistics New Zealand.
People Born Overseas
Includes discussion of people born in Asia based on information from the 2001 Census of Population and Dwellings. Published by Statistics New Zealand.
New Zealand Now - People Born Overseas
Includes discussion of people born in Asia based on information from the 1996 Census of Population and Dwellings. Published by Statistics New Zealand, 1999.
New Zealand Now - People and Places
Includes discussion of people of Asian ethnicities based on information from the 1996 Census of Population and Dwellings. Published by Statistics New Zealand, 1997.
Chinese poll-tax records
Information and online poll tax records for Chinese immigrants from 1881 to 1944. Published by Office of Ethnic Affairs.
Outlook Series
Major series of research publications on various aspects of the Asian population in New Zealand. Published by Asia:NZ Foundation, Wellington.
References
Ip Manying (1996). Dragons of the Long White Cloud, Tandem Press, Auckland.
Ip Manying (2003). Unfolding History, Evolving Identity, Auckland University Press, Auckland.
Ip, Manying (2009) The Dragon and the Taniwha. Auckland University Press.
Leckie, Jacqueline (2007) Indian Settlers: the Story of a New Zealand South Asian Community. Otago University Press, Dunedin.
Ng J (1993-1999) Windows on a Chinese Past, Otago Heritage Books, Dunedin.
Statistics New Zealand (1995) New Zealand Now - Asian New Zealanders, Statistics New Zealand, Wellington.
Tiwari K (1980). Indians in New Zealand, Price Milburn, Wellington.
Experts
For further information email the Demography Division of Statistics New Zealand or write to:
Robert Didham
Demography Division
Statistics New Zealand
Dollan House
401 Madras Street
Private Bag 4741
Christchurch