A Statistical Snapshot of Pacific peoples in Aotearoa
New Zealand
At the 2018 Census, Pacific peoples made up 8.1
percent of the population, making this group
the fourth largest ethnic group, at over 380,000
people.25 Pacific peoples were the fourth largest
ethnic grouping. New Zealand Europeans accounted
for the largest group, followed by Māori and
then Asian peoples. 9 percent of Pacific peoples
identified with more than one Pacific ethnicity, and
almost a third with ethnicities outside Pacific ethnic
groups.26
The eight largest Pacific ethnic groups are
illustrated in Figure 2.27 Other Pacific ethnic groups
include Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, NiVanuatu, Nauru, Palau, French Polynesia, New
Caledonia, Marshall Islands and Federated States of
Micronesia.28
48%
1. SAMOA
21.5%
TONGA
21%
COOK ISLANDS
8%
NIUE
5%
FIJI
TOKELAU
TUVALU
KIRIBATI
2%
1%
1%
Figure 2: Largest Pacific Ethnicities in Aotearoa New Zealand29
25
26
27
28
29
10
2018 NZ Census https://www.stats.govt.nz/tools/2018-census-ethnic-group-summaries/pacific-peoples.
https://www.pasefikaproud.co.nz/assets/Uploads/Pasefika-Proud-Pathways-for-Change-2019-2023.pdf.
2018 NZ Census.
Tunoa, A. 2018. Pacific peoples Progress in the Labour Market: A Literature Review. Auckland: Ministry of Business
Innovation and Employment and the Southern Initiative, p. 7.
This table adds to 107 percent which reflects the multiple number of Pacific ethnicities some people identify with.
Talanoa: Human rights issues for Pacific peoples in Aotearoa New Zealand