How is the MELAA ethnic group defined?
The MELAA ethnic group is one of the six top level categories currently used in New Zealand to identify ethnicity (European, Māori, Pacific peoples, Asian, MELAA and Other). People represented in MELAA include people of Middle Eastern, African and Latin American ethnicities. This group was referred to as Other in the classification prior to the 2005 Standard Classification of Ethnicity. The name was changed to better represent what was included in the grouping of ethnicities. The new group referred to as Other Ethnicities contains New Zealander and other groups that do not fit into the five other groupings.
What are MELAA ethnic group statistics used for?
Statistics about MELAA ethnic groups are used to count and describe the characteristics of people of ethnicities included under the MELAA grouping and can be used to analyse the dwellings, locations and environments that these people live in.
The characteristics include socio-economic and geographic information (eg age, sex, educational qualifications, location), and may be used to compare the MELAA ethnic group with the total New Zealand population, and with the European, Māori, Pacific peoples and Asian ethnic groups.
Resources
Quickstats about Culture and Identity
Provides an overview of ethnicity data from the 2006 Census of Population and Dwellings
Ethnic Groups
Includes tables on people of Other ethnicities from the 2001 Census of Population and Dwellings. Published by Statistics New Zealand.
Cultural Diversity
Contains some information on people of Other ethnicities from the 2001 Census of Population and Dwellings. Published by Statistics New Zealand.
Ethnic Communities
Office of Ethnic Affairs web page with links to a range of resources on particular ethnic communities.
Longitudinal Immigration Survey: New Zealand
Information on a longitudinal survey on immigration to be conducted 2005-2009.
References
Bell D (2001). New to New Zealand: a Guide to Ethnic Groups in New Zealand, Reed Publishing, Auckland.
Trlin A, Skinner M and Henderson A (2000). Employment, job satisfaction and personal well-being: a longitudinal study of skilled immigrants from South Africa, paper presented at Ninth Conference on Labour, Employment and Work, 23-24 November 2000, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington.
Watts N and Trlin A (1999). Utilisation of immigrant language resources in International business, trade and tourism in New Zealand. New Settlers Programme Occasional Publication No.1, New Settlers Programme, Massey University, Palmerston North.
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