B2.3.1 General

Total population is about 3.5 million.  Over 70% of the population are in
the North Island, largest centre is Auckland (over 1 million), capital is
Wellington.

1975         3,071,000
1988         3,343,000
1990         3,402,000
1992 (July)  3,347,369
1994         3,541,000
2000         3,714,000
Population Growth       0.88 %
Population Density        32/sq mi
Population Doubling Time  79 years

Net migration rate:  -2 migrants/1,000 population (1992)

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B2.3.2  Major Cities

              Population   Lat    Long

Wellington     360,000   41.17S  174.47E
Auckland       890,000   36.52S  174.46E
Christchurch   335,000   43.33S  172.40E
Hamilton       100,000   37.46S  175.18E
Dunedin        110,000   45.52S  170.30E

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B2.3.3  Age Distribution

Age range    Male %   Female %
    0-9       8.0       7.6
   10-19      9.4       9.0
   20-29      8.6       8.4
   30-39      7.4       7.5
   40-49      5.4       5.3
   50-59      4.5       4.4
   60-69      3.6       4.1
   70+        2.7       4.1
      Total  49.6      50.4

Literacy Rate    99 %
Urbanization   83.5 %

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B2.3.4  Ethnicity

Data from the "1991 Census of Population and Dwellings" publications.

                      Ethnic Group,
         for Population Resident in New Zealand

Single Ethnic Group
                                   Total     Percent
European (1)                     2,658,738     79.5
NZ Maori                           323,493      9.7
Samoan                              68,565      2.0
Cook Island Maori                   26,925      0.8
Tongan                              18,264      0.5
Niuean                               9,429      0.3
Tokelauan                            2,802      0.1
Fijian                               2,760      0.1
Other Pacific                        1,413       --
Total, Single Pacific Group        130,158      3.9
Chinese                             37,689      1.1
Indian                              26,979      0.8
Other Single Ethnic Groups (2)      25,926      0.8
Total, Single Ethnic Groups      3,202,980     95.7

(1) May include combinations of European groups e.g. NZ European and/or
British and/or Dutch etc.
(2) All Groups not included above.  May include combinations of Other
Groups, eg. Japanese and/or Korean and/or Middle Eastern Groups.

There is a very good (not *too* technical) book on Maori Demography for
further reference of those interested:
  Pool, Ian.  1991.  _Te Iwi Maori:  A New Zealand Population Past, Present
    and Projected_ Auckland University Press (dist.  by Oxford Univ.  Press
    outside of New Zealand)

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B2.3.5  Official Languages

English, Maori.  Pacific Island and Asian languages may be heard in cities.

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B2.3.6  Religions

A Massey research project reveals that 28 percent of Kiwis pray, at
frequencies varying between several times a day, to weekly.  About 21
percent of the population are regular churchgoers.  The radio report on the
topic said that over 60 percent of NZers believe in a God.

And/or...

            1991 census: (%)
Anglican        22.1
Presbyterian    16.3
Catholic        15.0
Methodist        4.2
Agnostic         0.1
Atheist         <0.05
No religion     20.1
Object to state  7.6

In 1981 (and I presume earlier censuses) there was simply a blank where you
wrote your religion.  In 1986 and 1991, there were half a dozen or so boxes
you could tick, including "No Religion" and "Other" (with a blank space to
fill in if you ticked "Other").  In 1981, Agnostic and Atheist accounted
for 0.8 and 0.7%, so clearly many people who would write "Atheist" when
confronted with a blank space would tick "No Religion" when such a box was
an option.  (I did this myself in 1986.)

In 1986, "No Religion" got 16.7%, so this is growing fast, and is the
second largest group.  (It was less than 1% in the 1950s.)


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B2.3.6.1  Russian or Greek orthodox church in NZ 

Is Russian or Greek orthodox church present in New Zealand?
            (Question by Alex Tretyakov on 04 Jan 1998)

  Patrick Dunford writes:
    According to the 1996 census there were just under 7000 "Orthodox
    Christians", an increase of about 2700 since the 1991 census.
  
    There is and has been a Russian Orthodox church in Brougham St, 
    Christchurch for many years. 

  Charles Eggen writes:
    Orthodox Christians represent less than 10,000 in New Zealand. Over
    half of them are Greek Orthodox residing in the Wellington area. The
    Church of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary has the only full-time
    Orthodox priest in New Zealand. The Ecumenical Patriarchate of
    Constantinople sent New Zealand's only Orthodox Bishop - Metropolitan
    Dionysios Psiachas who resides in Welllington. There are small
    parishes in Auckland, Christchurch, Petone, Palmerston North and
    Masterton.

    You can contact the Wellington church at:
    Church of the Greek Orthodox Community of Wellington
    PO Box 1311, Wellington, New Zealand
    Phone: 64-4-385-1076

    The Russian Orthodox church exists due to the services of Father
    Ambrose, a Serbian priest. Christchurch has the only Russian Orthodox
    Church in New Zealand although there are small congregations in
    Wellington and Auckland. A website is under construction at:
    http://www.roxy.co.nz/church.htm

  Miche Campbell writes:
    There are two Antiochian Orthodox Churches in New Zealand, one in 
    Ashley, near Rangiora (outside Christchurch) and one in Dunedin.

  Lyndon Watson writes:
    Moscow, Constantinople and Antioch all have churches in New Zealand.
    There is a large Greek Orthodox community in Wellington.
    The Anthiochian Orthodox Church in Ashley is actually an Anglican 
    church which allows the Orthodox priest to hold services there.

  
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B2.3.6.2  URLs related to religion in NZ
  
Buddhism  http://www.earthlight.co.nz/users/sonamt/index.html
Religious Organisations for Tamils of NZ
          http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~tamil/religion.htm
Canterbury links to Religion and Spirituality
          http://www.canterbury.net.nz/community/religion-spirituality/


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