New data released by Te Kāhui Raraunga of the Data Iwi Leaders Group has revealed all iwi affiliation populations have increased at an average of 46% between the 2013 and 2023 Census.
The datasets released today are the only Census 2023 results that have been published.
Kirikowhai Mikaere, lead technician for Te Kāhui Raraunga, said compared to past Census data, this year’s statistics are an opportunity for Māori to be able to have access to “accurate, relevant data” in a timely fashion, to be “harnessed to support kōrero about the strategic investment needed now, and in the future”.
In addition to the nearly one million New Zealanders identifying as Māori, specific details on iwi affiliation show on average, iwi population counts in the last 10 years have increased by nearly half – most prevalent are smaller iwi (under 1000), which have risen by over 200%.
Roimata Timutimu, data programme manager at Te Kāhui Raraunga, said a redesign of the iwi affiliation questions for the Census – such as increasing the number of iwi possible to select – have contributed to better quality data for iwi.
“In recent years, we have begun to benefit from the fruits of many significant Māori movements, like Kōhanga Reo and Kura Kaupapa. These movements have helped to increase the sense of pride across iwi Māori in our identity, strengthen connections, and invigorate reconnection with our whakapapa.”
So what do the numbers say?
The official population counts for tribes across the country have been collated for the first time in a decade. (Source: 1News)
Largest iwi
Ngāpuhi remains the largest iwi with 184,470 people affiliating with the northern tribe. Ngāti Porou (102,480) and Ngāti Kahungunu (95,751) are second and third respectively.
Auckland remains the most populated region in the country for Māori, with 23.3% residing in the city. This is followed by Waikato (14.1%) and Bay of Plenty (11.2%).
Education
The number of individuals affiliated to an iwi who have received a formal qualification has increased to nearly 80%, as compared to 69.1% 10 years prior.
Health
Smoking statistics have decreased for iwi affiliates. Between 2013 and 2023, the number of regular smokers dropped from 30.5% to 14.7%, and the number of individuals who have never smoked has increased to over 50%. The trend continues for those who have given up smoking, increasing to over 30% compared to 23.5% in 2013.
Māori workers
Employment rates are on the rise for those registered with an iwi, with 63.1% of individuals either in full-time or part-time employment. Most work in Construction (11.8%), followed by Manufacturing (10.1%) and Healthcare (9.2%).
Te reo Māori
Numbers have suggested a steady increase of iwi affiliated members who could hold a conversation in te reo, from 122,418 people in 2013 to 182,070 in 2023. Leading the push towards learning the language are children, rangatahi, and adults under 30 years of age.
‘We are an iwi of young people’
The official population counts for iwi around the country have been revealed for the first time in 10 years and across the board numbers are growing, with some iwi having doubled in size.
According to the data, Ngāi Tahu, or Kāi Tahu, is the fifth largest iwi in New Zealand with a population of 84,969.
Eruera Tarena, executive director of Ngāi Tahu social innovation agency Tokona Te Raki, said he was surprised to see the iwi growth – and that over half of the population is under 30.
“So, we are an iwi of young people and we are fast-growing and I think that has a huge positive implications for our future.”
Tarena said it is a good sign of prosperity and that it reflects those individuals who are “rediscovering their whakapapa, registering with their iwi, and learning more, and embracing their cultural identity as Ngāi Tahu”.
He said negative statistics that talk about Māori disadvantage are easy to recite, but one thing to be gained from data is understanding the barriers that hold Māori back and their causes.
“The big advantage there is that we can start to understand what are the things that are holding these negative outcomes in place so that they can be removed.”
On the other hand, there is opportunity in seeing the implications for the country of having a “younger, faster-growing population”, he said.
“Moving forward with a younger age demographic, every year is going to be more Māori than the year before, and we’re also seeing an ageing Pākehā demographic, so really, the future of Aotearoa is going to be increasingly dependent on a younger Māori population moving in, filling a lot of those spaces that will be vacated by an ageing workforce,” Tarena said.
“So really, it sort of starts to build a narrative, a story that we’ve got to work together for a shared and prosperous future.”
Iwi affiliation question redesigned
A redesign of the iwi affiliation question for the Census has contributed to better quality data for iwi, according to Te Kāhui Raraunga.
Changes to the question include increasing the number of iwi possible to select from five to 16, a map where people can select a region for a list of iwi within the area, or the option to select iwi from a list filtered by region without a map.
Mikaere said a Māori lens on question design means the collected data is more comprehensive and of greater value to iwi.
“There has been an increase in all iwi affiliation populations, however, in addition to a real-world population increase, the numbers reflect the incorporation of additional data sources by way of the combined collection model, improvements in response rates for Māori, and changes to the question design and functionality online, meaning whānau Māori were able to more accurately and appropriately reflect their whakapapa,” she said.
“This is particularly evident in the significant population increases for smaller iwi, with populations of fewer than 1000, doubling in size on average. Rather than attributing this increase to a baby boom, it is more likely that for the first time, whānau Māori have been able to provide their whakapapa in greater detail.”
Timutimu said it was vital to phrase Census pātai in a way that reflected major Māori movements – such as Kōhanga Reo and Kura Kaupapa Māori – to collect relevant and meaningful data.
Poor response rates in past Census meant official iwi statistics were non-existent, but the quality rating for iwi affiliation and Māori descent data has “significantly improved” since 2018, said Timutimu.
“Iwi-Māori having a seat at the decision-making table, and iwi-Māori data technicians enhancing question design, have both enabled more accurate responses as well as directly resulted in iwi gaining timely, relevant information and better insights to guide important kōrero and decision making,” she said.
“At the same time, these insights highlight where further policy development and investment is required to continue closing these gaps.”
The data is available on the online platform Te Whata, developed by Te Kāhui Raraunga.
