NEW ZEALAND
A
Regional
Profile
WELLINGTON
Published in November 1999 by
Statistics New Zealand
Te Tari Tatau
Wellington, New Zealand
Catalogue Number 01.711.IN98
ISBN 0-478-20708-5
Recommended retail price $15.00
(includes 12.5% GST)
Preface
New Zealand - A Regional Profile aims to summarise information about all 16 regions in New Zealand
into one comprehensive volume.
What do regions mean to New Zealanders? Essentially they are a place to live, a focus for
parochialism on the sports field and a source of local identity. If you asked a Southlander, “Do you
see yourself as being different to a Nelsonian”, they would answer firmly, “Yes”. Defining regional
qualities is, however, rather less definitive. What does it really mean to be a Cantabrian, a
Northlander or a Wellingtonian? How does the region of residence affect the individual in terms of
employment choices, income, access to health and educational services? This publication explores
how the history, topography, social, demographic and economic forces in each region have shaped
experiences. While it cannot exactly describe each individual in Northland or Canterbury, the
publication can show the most distinctive characteristics of each region.
The publication has a two-fold purpose: to provide a comprehensive source of information about
each region in New Zealand; and to analyse each region, comparing differences and similarities,
with the aim of celebrating regional diversity in New Zealand. The sixteen chapters examine the
history, topography, population characteristics and economy of each region. Information is presented
in written, graphic and tabular form.
I would like to acknowledge my appreciation of Dr Rosemary Goodyear, Aaron Green and Rochelle
Morgan of the Regional and International Statistics Division who contributed to this report, under
the direction of Zane Colville.
Len Cook
Government Statistician
Blank Page 4
Acknowledgement
This report was prepared by the Regional and International Statistics Division and published by the
Publishing and Community Information Division of Statistics New Zealand.
Further information
For further information on the statistics in this report, or on other publications or products, contact
Information and Consultancy Services.
AUCKLAND
WELLINGTON
70 Symonds Street,
Private Bag 92003,
Telephone 0-9-357 2100,
Fax 0-9-379 0859.
Aorangi House,
85 Molesworth Street,
PO Box, 2922,
Telephone 0-4-495 4600,
Fax 0-4-495 4610.
CHRISTCHURCH
Winchester House,
64 Kilmore Street,
Private Bag 4741.
Telephone 0-3-374 8700,
Fax 0-3-374 8864.
Internet
Home Page: http//www.stats.govt.nz
Email: [email protected]
Liability statement
Statistics New Zealand gives no warranty that the information or data supplied contains no errors.
However, all care and diligence has been used in processing, analysing and extracting the information.
Statistics New Zealand shall not be liable for any loss or damage suffered by the customer
consequent upon the use directly, or indirectly, of the information supplied in this product.
Reproduction of material
Any table or other material published in the following pages of this report may be reproduced and
published without further licence, provided that it does not purport to be published under
Government authority and that acknowledgement is made of this source.
Blank Page 6
CONTENTS
Page
Highlights
Introduction
History
The land and environment
Topography
Soil and climate
Environment
Regional features
The people
Population structure
Migration
Age group
Ethnicity
Religion
Education
Labour market
Access to services
Dwellings
Households and families
Income and expenditure
Number of children
Health
Crime
The economy
Business
Energy
Agriculture
Horticulture
Forestry
Manufacturing
Buildings
Retail trade
Tourism
Transport
Definitions
Bibliography
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14
15
15
16
16
17
18
18
19
21
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41
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Wellington
Highlights
·
·
·
·
·
·
·
Wellington is one of the smallest
regions in New Zealand, occupying
8,124 square kilometres.
The region has the third-largest
population in the country, with
414,048 usual residents on census
night in 1996.
The majority of the population is
European (83.0 percent).
There are fewer Mäori but the
second-largest proportion of Pacific
Islands people outside Auckland
(7.4 percent).
The region’s population is the most highly qualified in the country with over 15 percent of
people having a university degree, compared to 9.5 percent nationally.
There are proportionally more journalists and legal professionals per head of population in
the Wellington Region.
New Zealand’s capital city, Wellington, is located in the region.
Introduction
The Wellington Region has always provided challenges for human habitation. Although Mäori
settled in the region fairly early, survival was always more of a struggle than in the warmer northern
regions of the North Island. Archaeological work at Palliser Bay, one of the most studied pa sites in
New Zealand, shows the difficulty of survival on the rugged coast. Erosion, over-hunting and
difficulties in gardening eventually drove the inhabitants away at about 1600 AD. Early Mäori in
the region survived by hunting and gathering although they did engage in horticulture in some
areas. The western side of the region, particularly Te Awarua o-Porirua, provided a more sheltered
climate and the harbour there held rich shellfish beds. Conflict emerged in the early 1820s as the
Ngäti Toa, under Te Rauparaha, migrated south, eventually winning most of the land in the region
by conquest and intermarriage. Consequently, when Europeans arrived land ownership in the
region was more than usually complex, leading to considerable controversy about land transactions
and creating conflict in the early days of European settlement.
9
New Zealand - A Regional Profile
Wellington
The New Zealand Company, which established many of the early settlements in New Zealand,
always intended Wellington to be the capital of New Zealand. A central point between the North
Island (Te Ika a Maui) and the South Island (Te Wai Pounamu), it seemed a logical choice for the
new colony. Settlers in the region eagerly lobbied for capital city status and when Wellington City
finally became the capital in 1865, the city and the region grew rapidly.
Since 1865 politics has been a dominating force in the region, particularly in Wellington City. If
Auckland had continued to be the nation’s capital it is likely that the growth of this rugged and
earthquake-prone area would have been much slower. While politicians argued and the various
issues of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries enjoyed frenzied debate in the capital, the rest of
the region continued at a slower pace. Sheep farming opened up the Wairarapa to European
settlement, and the district boasted some of the most elaborate homesteads outside Canterbury and
Otago. As New Zealand urbanised so did Wellington, which eventually became one of the most
highly urbanised regions in the country.
Today four main cities, Wellington, Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt and Porirua, contain most of the
region’s population. The location of central government and the head offices of major business and
financial institutions in the region has created considerable job opportunities which continue to
attract a young and dynamic population, particularly in Wellington City. In the capital numerous
cafes, theatres and night clubs create a cosmopolitan atmosphere. To some extent the latter three
cities act as extensions of Wellington City, but have developed their own industries and identity.
Less than 4 percent of the population lives in rural areas yet the region has an important farming
industry, as the location of the Golden Shears competition in Masterton testifies.
Wellington City is projected to prosper over the next twenty years but the rest of the region is not
expected to prosper to the same extent. Outside the capital, unemployment rates are higher and,
especially in rural areas, access to services is more limited. Future projections suggest that the
population outside Wellington City and Kapiti Coast District will experience a population decline.
History
C.900-1770
Coastal Mäori collect shellfish and there are extensive cockle beds at Porirua, as
well as stone-terraced gardens to grow kumara. Inland Mäori largely rely on
hunting and gathering for subsistence.
C.1822
Te Rauparaha and many Ngäti Toa (originally from Kawhia) settle on Kapiti Island.
1824
Ngäti Toa defeats a force of approximately 2,000 local iwi and firmly establishes
control over the Kapiti Coast along with other northern iwi.
1825
Captain Herd of the Rosanna names Te Whanganui/Wellington Harbour, Port
Nicholson, after the Harbour Master at Sydney.
New Zealand - A Regional Profile
Wellington
10
1839
The Tory, carrying the representative of the New Zealand Company, Colonel
William Wakefield, drops anchor in Port Nicholson. The company’s plan for
“systematic colonisation” (managed and hierarchical settlement) was dependent
on continuing immigration and the purchase of very cheap land.
1840
The Cuba arrives at Port Nicholson with New Zealand Company surveyors. A
thousand settlers disembark on Petone beach with no shelter, facilities or established
sections. Initially local Mäori provide settlers with food, and gradually they establish
subsistence farming, but Wakefield’s dream of an orderly settlement fails because of
inhospitable land, and lack of resources and capital. The New Zealand Gazette, the
first newspaper in New Zealand, is published. The settlement at Port Nicholson is
named “Wellington” after the Duke of Wellington.
1842
First formal race meeting - the “Royal Epsom” is held at Petone.
1844
The first New Zealand squatters (from Australia) drive their flocks from Port
Nicholson to the Wairarapa, to farm on illegal leases bought from Mäori chiefs.
1853-4
Small-holding settlements are established with Governor Grey’s support, at
Masterton and Greytown in the Wairarapa.
1848
Earthquakes frighten settlers away from Wellington City. Wellingtonians rebuild
buildings in wood to better withstand future earthquakes.
1855
A large earthquake kills 12 people and creates a tsunami 3-6 metres high along
Wellington Harbour. Uplift that accompanies the earthquake raises harbour beaches,
creating the site for the current harbour-side roads and motorways to the Hutt
Valley and Eastbourne. It also lifts the entire Hutt Valley approximately two metres
higher.
1865
Wellington replace Auckland as the seat of government.
1870s
Scandinavian settlers pioneer the felling of the seventy-mile bush which stretched
from Masterton to Norsewood, opening up the Wellington, Taranaki and Hawke’s
Bay hinterland for farming.
1874
First ballast train travels from Wellington to Lower Hutt.
1876
Government Buildings are completed.
1897
Victoria University is established.
1900
The Kelburn Cable Car opens.
11
New Zealand - A Regional Profile
Wellington
1913
A lock-out of watersiders occurs at Wellington. The “Battle of Featherston St”
ensues as strikers attempt to prevent the shipment of racehorses from Wellington to
Christchurch.
1921
The European population of Wellington City reaches 107,488 people and it becomes
the second-largest city in New Zealand.
1922
Parliament Building is completed.
1960s
The New Zealand government resettle many Tokelauans in Porirua following the
devastation of their island.
1962
Aramoana, the first Cook Strait ferry, comes into service between Wellington and
Picton.
1968
The Wahine sinks in a storm in Wellington Harbour, drowning 51 people.
1970s
The government builds new ministerial offices at parliament, which are named the
Beehive.
1985
The Mäori land march arrives at Parliament after marchers walked the length of
the North Island to draw attention to Mäori grievances.
1998
The Museum of New Zealand (Te Papa) opens in Wellington, attracting record
crowds.
The land and environment
Topography
The Wellington Region has the fourth-smallest land area in the country, occupying 8,124 square
kilometres. From the lower tip of the North Island it is surrounded on three sides by sea, and to the
north it intersects with the Manawatu-Wanganui Region. The highest point is Mitre Peak, 1,571
metres, but the region is rugged and characterised by steep hills and sharp valleys. The region’s
major mountain range, the Tararuas, is rough, bush-covered and subject to quickly changing
weather patterns. Most of the coastline is steep and inaccessible, but Wellington Harbour (Port
Nicholson) is a major port.
Soil and climate
Argillite and greywacke sandstone from the Triassic Age make up much of the Wellington Region,
although there are areas, especially around the coastline, of pillow lava. Quartz veins filter through
the rock but although early prospectors attempted to exploit them for gold the goldfields were not
very productive. The entire Wellington landscape is an eroded peneplain, punctuated by areas of
New Zealand - A Regional Profile
Wellington
12
uplift and geological instability. Four major faultlines run throughout the region. The West Wairarapa
fault runs through the Rimutaka Range, the Owhariu Fault runs close to the west coast, intersecting
Porirua Harbour, while the Pukerua Fault starts at Oteranga Bay then continues along the coast.
The Wellington Fault begins at Sinclair Head and carries right through the city along the western
side of the harbour and through the Hutt Valley to the Tararua Range. Secondary “splinter”
faultlines run off these primary faults, forming valleys. The existence of these faults has resulted in
the greywacke of the Wellington Region being shattered, which makes the landscape easily eroded.
These geological forces have made Port Nicholson one of the most rugged harbours in the world. 1
Glaciation, as well as faultlines, has also shaped the Wellington landscape. After the last ice age fine
silt and gravel from the glacial moraines in the Tararua Ranges blew across the region. These
particles were deposited in the grasslands, resulting in fertile loess soil in the valleys and along the
Wairarapa. The hill-country is covered by yellow-brown earths. Most of the region’s soils are free
draining and tend towards dryness. Although geological processes left rich soil in the region, ice,
wind and water erosion has stripped the topsoil off ridges and hills, making many of these soils
deficient and poorly performing.
The Wellington Region has a changeable climate and Wellington City in particular, suffers from
unsettled weather. The city is subject to high wind velocities. Hawkins Hill in Wellington City holds
the North Island record for the highest velocity, recording a speed of 248 kilometres per hour in
1959 and again in 1962. Mt John in Canterbury holds the record for the highest wind velocity ever
recorded in the country at 250 kilometres per hour on 18 April 1970. The Wellington Region enjoys
a sunny climate, experiencing an average of 2,025 sunshine hours per annum. Annual rainfall also
approximates the New Zealand average with Wellington City receiving an average of 1,270
millimetres of rain a year. The east coast of the region is substantially dryer, receiving between 500
and 1,000 millimetres a year. The climate in the region is temperate, experiencing less variation
than many other parts of the country. Wellington City has a maximum mid-summer daily average of
20.3oC and a minimum mid-winter daily average of 5.9oC.
Environment
The Wellington Region is home to areas of considerable ecological significance, especially Kapiti, an
off-shore island. The Department of Conservation has successfully eradicated rats from the island,
making the island a haven for many rare and endangered native birds. For example, the island is
home to the nation’s largest little spotted kiwi population, approximately 1,000 birds, none of which
survive on the mainland. Visitors to Kapiti can experience a reverberating dawn chorus of the type
now unknown on the mainland where rats, ferrets, possums, cats and wasps have decimated native
bird populations. There are three forest parks within the region: Tararua, Rimutaka and Haurangi,
which are important recreational areas. Lake Wairarapa is another area of considerable ecological
significance. It is New Zealand’s third-largest wetland area and drains into Lake Onoke, which is
separated from the ocean by a shingle bar. The lake is home to over 90 native bird species.
1
Graeme R.Stevens, Rugged Landscape The Geology of Central New Zealand, including Wellington, Wairarapa, Manawatu and the
Marlborough Sounds, AH & AW Reed, Wellington, 1974.
13
New Zealand - A Regional Profile
Wellington
The Wellington Regional Council is responsible for managing air, soil and water quality in the region
as well as flood-prevention. One environmental concern is the problem of traffic congestion, with
its consequent effects on air quality, especially in Wellington City. Plant and animal pests are also of
concern, although pest infestation in the Wellington Region is not as severe as other regions. The
main pests are possums, rabbits, and wild ginger and old man’s beard. The council has also targeted
other introduced species, such as rooks, and has attempted to reduce and manage pest numbers.
Pesticide use and disposal, as well as effluent disposal, creates environmental problems in rural areas
and the council monitors problem sites. Stricter regional council environmental policies from 1991
to 1997 have improved the quality of coastal water. The regional council monitored 70 coastal water
sites in 1997, finding only 11 unsuitable for recreational purposes. The council also monitors the
quality of water in rivers and streams. There are a number of locations in the Kapiti District and
Wellington City where water quality is unsatisfactory, while Porirua City generally has good water
quality. Wairarapa rivers have high water quality in their upper reaches, but this can deteriorate in
the lower reaches due to sewage discharges and agricultural run-off.
Concerns about potential water shortages, after the problems of the Auckland Region, have led the
regional council and local authorities to enact water conservation measures in the summer months.
As a result the amount of water used in the region per person has decreased in recent years. The
Wellington Region, like Canterbury, has a good supply of groundwater which is used for drinking.
The regional council monitors these resources to ensure that excess consumption of water does not
result in depletion and salination of coastal aquifers.2
Regional features
The Wellington Region is an area with rich history, as well as a rugged and wild natural environment.
Traditionally the region has not been a major tourist destination, although in recent years it has
increased in popularity. Wellington City can claim the title of the cultural capital of the country,
with its numerous theatres, galleries and museums as well as the biennial Festival of the Arts. The
new Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa, has proved a major attraction since its opening in early
1998. Lower Hutt houses the Avalon studios, the national film unit and the Broadcasting Corporation.
Outside the main urban centres the region has a wild and curiously remote feeling. Kapiti Island, as
well as being the home of the legendary warrior and strategist Te Rauparaha, is now an important
wildlife sanctuary. The Wairarapa District offers an attractive pastoral landscape with the incentive
of various wineries. Masterton, the centre of a rich pastoral district, hosts the annual Golden Shears
competition, one of the most important rural competitions in the country and the mecca for
aspiring shearers. Papawai Marae near Greytown, was the centre for the Kotahitanga/Mäori
parliament movement, an important campaign for Mäori unity in the nineteenth century which
rivalled the Kingitanga Movement in significance.
2
Wellington Regional Council, Annual Environment Report 1997, Wellington, November 1997.
New Zealand - A Regional Profile
Wellington
14
The people
Population structure
On census night in 1996 the Wellington Region had the third-largest population in the country
(414,048 people) despite its relatively small area. As a result it had the third-highest population
density in the country, 51 people per square kilometre. At the time of the 1996 Census almost all of
the region’s inhabitants were urban, 96.5 percent, a figure only surpassed by the Nelson Region.
This urban population was concentrated in four cities: Wellington City, Porirua City, and Upper
and Lower Hutt Cities, which in total contained 336,858 people.
Population growth in the region has been slower than the national average, and considerably slower
than the growth rate experienced by the northern half of the North Island. The Wellington Region’s
growth rate of 5.5 percent between 1986 and 1996, was approximately half the national average of
10.9 percent. Population projections suggest that Wellington’s growth rate will continue to slow,
with the population increasing by only 2 percent to reach 433,500 people by the year 2021,
although it should maintain its position as the third-most-populous region. This reflects a pattern of
population growth in both islands whereby the population moves from the south to the north,
generally clustering around areas with warm sunny climates.
Figure 9.1
Projected Population Growth, 1996-2021
Area
Tararua District
Kapiti Coast District
Porirua City
Upper Hutt City
Lower Hutt City
Wellington City
Masterton District
Carterton District
South Wairarapa District
Wellington Region
New Zealand
1996 base
19,400
39,300
47,800
37,500
98,300
162,700
23,200
6,900
9,100
425,000
3,714,100
2021
17,600
50,800
43,500
32,000
93,000
179,800
20,200
5,900
8,100
433,500
4,353,200
Percentage change
-9.3
29.3
-9.0
-14.7
-5.4
10.5
-12.9
-14.5
-11.0
2.0
17.2
Source: Statistics New Zealand, (Medium series) Sub-national Resident Population Projections,
30 October 1997
Of the different territorial authorities that comprise the Wellington Region, only Kapiti Coast
District and Wellington City are expected to experience significant growth. It is likely that the
Kapiti Coast District is expanding because of the warmer climate and its popularity with retired
people. At the time of the 1996 Census 28.5 percent of the adult population received income from
New Zealand Superannuation in the previous 12 months, which was the highest percentage in New
Zealand. All the other cities within the region (Porirua City, Upper Hutt City and Lower Hutt City)
are projected to lose population with Upper Hutt experiencing the greatest population loss.
15
New Zealand - A Regional Profile
Wellington
Migration3
An examination of population movements between 1991 and 1996 shows that Wellington lost
population to every region in the country except Southland, Otago and Taranaki, from which it
experienced a net gain in population. In total 6,537 people left the region between 1991 and 1996.
The largest loss of population (for people who specified their residence) was to Auckland, 3,492
people, and the Bay of Plenty, 1,419 people.4 The region’s largest gain in population has been of
young people. A total of 35.4 percent of migrants to the region were in the 25 to 39-year age group
and 21.1 percent were in the 15 to 24-year age group. It seems likely that education and the
employment opportunities generated by Wellington’s unique position as the country’s capital and
centre of government, have attracted migrants from these age groups.
Figure 9.2
Age Group of People Moving to Wellington from Selected Regions
Percent
Origin
Waikato
Auckland
Bay of Plenty
Hawke’s Bay
Manawatu-Wanganui
Canterbury
Tas.-Nels.-Marl.
0-14
15-24
25-39
40-59
60-74
75+
14.4
15.6
16.3
13.0
14.5
11.7
11.4
29.9
18.7
33.2
43.0
30.5
25.4
37.6
36.8
43.2
28.7
25.3
35.5
46.7
28.6
13.3
17.1
14.1
12.4
13.4
12.8
14.9
3.6
3.8
5.4
3.7
4.0
2.1
4.8
1.8
1.6
2.4
2.7
2.1
1.3
2.6
Source: Statistics New Zealand, Census of Population and Dwellings, 1996
Figure 9.3
Age Group of People Moving from Wellington to Selected Regions
Percent
Destination
Waikato
Auckland
Bay of Plenty
Hawke’s Bay
Manawatu-Wanganui
Canterbury
Tas.-Nels.-Marl.
0-14
15-24
25-39
40-59
60-74
75+
18.7
15.9
18.9
19.3
16.7
15.9
16.2
18.1
17.4
14.7
17.9
26.3
24.9
15.9
35.6
42.5
29.9
34.3
28.3
36.9
38.6
17.6
18.4
22.8
18.4
17.8
16.8
20.4
7.1
3.7
9.8
6.9
7.7
3.9
7.2
2.8
2.2
3.8
3.2
3.3
1.5
1.7
Source: Statistics New Zealand, Census of Population and Dwellings, 1996
Age group
The high proportion of migrants to Wellington in the 25 to 39-year age group partly explains the
distinctive age structure of the region. The Wellington Region has the highest proportion of people
aged 25 to 39 years. Proportions of children, however are slightly smaller than the national average
(22.1 percent compared to 23.0 percent). The percentage of elderly is also slightly lower than the
national average (4.5 percent are 75 years and older compared to the national average of 4.9
percent).
New Zealand - A Regional Profile
Wellington
16
Figure 9.4
Age Distribution for Selected Areas, 1996
Percent
Area
Kapiti Coast District
Porirua City
Upper Hutt City
Lower Hutt City
Wellington City
Masterton District
Carterton District
South Wairarapa District
Wellington Region
New Zealand
0-14
15-24
25-39
40-59
60-74
75 +
21.4
27.9
23.3
23.7
18.7
24.7
24.4
24.2
22.1
23.0
9.9
14.9
15.6
14.4
16.9
12.9
11.8
11.4
14.9
14.8
18.5
23.9
23.2
24.6
29.5
20.2
19.6
20.3
25.3
23.5
23.3
23.2
23.4
23.2
23.0
23.9
25.9
25.9
23.3
23.3
17.6
7.8
10.4
9.6
8.2
12.5
12.6
12.9
10.0
10.6
9.3
2.3
4.0
4.5
3.7
5.9
5.6
5.3
4.5
4.9
Source: Statistics New Zealand, Census of Population and Dwellings, 1996
Ethnicity
The proportion of people belonging to the European ethnic group in the Wellington Region
approximates the national average of 83.1 percent, but there was a lower proportion of Mäori (12.5
percent compared to 15.1 percent nationally) and a higher percentage of Pacific Islands people (7.4
percent compared to 5.8 percent nationally).5 The proportion of people belonging to Asian ethnic
groups was also slightly higher than the national average (5.9 percent compared to 5.0 percent).
Although all ethnic groups increased in number since the 1991 Census, the rate of increase has
been slower than the national average, a reflection of Wellington’s slower population growth.
Figure 9.5
Percentage Change in Ethnic Groups, 1991-1996
Ethnic group
European
Mäori
Pacific Islands
Asian
Other
Wellington
(percent)
1.4
18.1
12.0
20.0
100.4
New Zealand
(percent)
3.4
20.4
21.0
73.9
145.3
Source: Statistics New Zealand, Census of Population and Dwellings, 1991, 1996
The Wellington Region has small but significant populations of particular ethnic groups. It has the
largest proportion of Tokelauans in the country, because the New Zealand government settled them
in Porirua City after a storm devastated Tokelau in the mid 1960s. At the time of the 1996 Census
there were 2,678 Tokelauans in the region and over half lived in Porirua City. Porirua City could
almost rival Auckland’s reputation as a Polynesian city, since it had the largest number of Pacific
Islands groups in the region. Approximately a fifth of the city’s population, 10,500 people, identified
5
Because people can identify with more than one ethnic group, percentages across ethnic groups will add up to more than 100 percent.
17
New Zealand - A Regional Profile
Wellington
with the Pacific Islands ethnic group on census night in 1996. After World War II a number of Polish
people settled in New Zealand, many of them in the Wellington Region, and they remain a
significant minority. There have also been a number of settlements of Greek people throughout the
century, and in 1996 over half of all people identifying with Greek ethnicity in New Zealand lived in
the Wellington Region. Wellington also has approximately 17 percent of the total population
belonging to the Indian ethnic group in New Zealand. This ethnic mix has given a distinctive
quality and considerable diversity to the region’s population, resulting in the maintenance of strong
cultural traditions.
Religion
The cosmopolitan nature of the region’s population emerges again with regard to religion. The
ethnic diversity noted in the previous section characterises religion. The region had the highest
national proportion of people adhering to the Jewish faith on census night in 1996. There was also
a higher than the national average proportion of people belonging to the Hindu religion, not
surprising given the proportion of people in the region identifying with an Indian ethnic group.
When Christian denominations are considered there were a greater proportion of Catholics in the
region (16.7 percent in contrast to 13.8 percent nationally). Proportions of Presbyterians and
Methodists were much smaller than the national average, probably because the Wellington Region
is a considerable distance from the Presbyterian heartland of Otago and Southland.
Education
The significance of Wellington as the centre of government in New Zealand becomes apparent in
relation to education and employment. The region had the most highly qualified population in the
country, with the largest proportion of highly qualified people in Wellington City.
Figure 9.6
Highest Qualification Gained, 1996
Highest qualification
No qualification
School certificate qualification
Sixth form qualification
Higher school qualification
Overseas school qualification
Basic vocational qualification
Skilled vocational qualification
Intermediate vocational qualification
Advanced vocational qualification
Bachelors degree
Higher degree
Wellington Region
(percent)
Auckland Region
(percent)
New Zealand
(percent)
31.2
11.6
10.7
6.4
2.8
3.9
6.8
1.7
9.0
10.4
5.6
34.3
12.5
10.3
5.9
4.1
3.8
6.6
1.6
9.1
8.2
3.7
38.1
13.2
10.1
5.6
2.5
3.7
7.2
1.6
8.5
6.4
3.2
Source: Statistics New Zealand, Census of Population and Dwellings, 1996
New Zealand - A Regional Profile
Wellington
18
On census night in 1996, 10,608 people in Wellington City had a higher degree (9.6 percent of the
adult population) and 19,182 people had a bachelor degree (17.3 percent of the population). This
directly reflects the existence of central government head offices which employ highly qualified
people, as well as the presence of many head offices of business, and the university. Outside
Wellington City and Upper and Lower Hutt Cities, the proportion of the population with no
qualifications was very similar to the national average.
Figure 9.7
Highest Qualifications by Selected Territorial Authority, 1996
Source: Statistics New Zealand, Census of Population and Dwellings, 1996
Labour market
The influence of the capital city in the region becomes apparent when examining labour market
statistics. In the Wellington Region the proportion of people engaged in government administration
and defence, property and business services, and finance and communication services was the
highest in the country on 5 March 1996. The presence of Parliament also means the region has the
largest proportion of journalists in the country. The percentage of people employed in manufacturing
was, however, the lowest in the country, a situation likely to be exacerbated by recent closures of
manufacturing businesses, such as the car assembly plant in Porirua.
19
New Zealand - A Regional Profile
Wellington
Figure 9.8
Percentage of Workforce Employed by Industry, 1996
Percent
Industry (major division)
Agriculture, forestry and fishing
Manufacturing
Retail trade
Communication services
Finance and insurance
Property and business services
Government administration and defence
Education
Health and community services
Cultural and recreational services
Personal and other services
Wellington
New Zealand
2.7
10.6
11.6
2.6
6.7
14.9
8.8
7.3
6.7
3.0
5.2
9.8
15.2
13.1
1.6
3.4
10.5
4.4
6.9
7.1
2.2
4.0
Source: Statistics New Zealand, Census of Population and Dwellings, 1996
Wellington is a major centre of the arts in New Zealand. There are a number of training schools for
the performing arts and Wellington City is the home of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. The
region has the highest proportion of dancers and dancing teachers in the country. Every second year
the city hosts an international festival of the arts and it has a lively theatre scene.
The region had a very high labour force participation rate at the time of the 1996 Census (68.2
percent compared to the national average of 65.4 percent). Participation rates for women were the
highest in the country (61.6 percent compared to 57.9 percent nationally), and the region also had
the highest proportion of professional women. Despite the high labour participation rate,
unemployment levels were close to the national average in March 1996 (7.5 percent compared to
7.7 percent nationwide). Unemployment was lower in Wellington City, at 6.4 percent, compared to
Porirua City with 11.0 percent, and Upper Hutt and Lower Hutt Cities (7.8 and 8.0 percent
respectively). At March 1998 the unemployment rate in the region was below the national average.6
Figure 9.9
Unemployment Rates, September 1995 to March 1998
Source: Statistics New Zealand, Household Labour Force Survey
6
Census night unemployment figures vary from those of the Household Labour Force Survey, which estimates unemployment figures from
a representative sample rather than a general census of the population.
New Zealand - A Regional Profile
Wellington
20
Access to services
People in the Wellington Region generally had good access to professional services, with much
higher proportions of dentists and pharmacists per head of population than the national average.
The region had the highest ratio of barristers and solicitors per head of population in the country on
census night in 1996. The high proportion of legal professionals probably reflects the importance of
the central government. A number of important tribunals, including the Waitangi Tribunal, are also
based in the region.
Figure 9.10
Access to Professional Services, 1996
Profession
Engineers
Surveyors
General practitioner
Other medical professionals
Dentists and dental surgeons
Pharmacists
Nurses
Teachers
Barristers and solicitors
Ratio of population to one professional
Wellington
187
2,509
1,070
767
2,421
1,663
127
67
276
New Zealand
209
2,388
1,040
883
2,798
1,939
130
71
547
Source: Statistics New Zealand, Census of Population and Dwellings, 1996
Dwellings
Housing statistics in the Wellington Region are probably affected by the housing situation in the
largest urban centre, Wellington City. The city perches on steep hilly land with little room to
expand and consequently, the typical Wellington house is two-storied with a small section. In
recent years multi-unit dwellings have become popular, reflecting an increasing trend towards living
in the central city. The Wellington Region has the lowest proportion of separate dwellings in the
country. At the time of the 1996 Census 76.5 percent were separate dwellings, compared to a
national average of 81.8 percent. Over 22 percent of dwellings were flats or houses joined together,
which was the highest in the country, and much higher than the national average of 16.3 percent.
The proportion of dwellings owned by occupants rather than rented was slightly lower than the
national average. This could partly be a result of the large proportion of people aged 25 to 39 years
in the population and the more transitory nature of much of the Wellington population.
Rents in the region were slightly higher than average at the time of the 1996 Census, with
approximately 14 percent of dwellings rented for less than $100 a week compared to a fifth of all
dwellings nationally. This perhaps reflects high demand for housing in Wellington City.
21
New Zealand - A Regional Profile
Wellington
Households and families
There was an average of 2.77 people per dwelling in the region in March 1996, slightly lower than
the national average of 2.83 people per dwelling. The region had a greater than average proportion
of one-person households, probably a primary cause of the lower occupancy rate. Sole-parent
families were slightly less common in the region, 16.8 percent compared to 17.7 percent nationally,
and there was a slightly higher proportion of two-parent families (45.8 percent compared to 44.9
percent).
Income and expenditure
Wellington appears fairly prosperous when compared to other regions. People in the Wellington
Region had the highest personal median incomes in the country for the year ended 31 March 1996,
which at $19,006 per annum, was almost $3,500 above the New Zealand median income and well
above the next region, Auckland.
Figure 9.11
Annual Personal Median Income, 1996
Source: Statistics New Zealand, Census of Population and Dwellings, 1996
This wealth is unevenly distributed throughout the region because of the concentration of highpaying jobs in Wellington City. Wellington City had the highest proportion of legislators, administrators
and managers, as well as professionals. These groups received a median income of $37,563 and
$35,556 respectively, the highest incomes for any occupational group. This probably explains the
disparity in income between the different parts of the region.
New Zealand - A Regional Profile
Wellington
22
Figure 9.12
Annual Median Personal Income
by Territorial Authority, 1996
Territorial authority
Median
($)
Wellington City
Lower Hutt City
Upper Hutt City
Porirua City
Tararua District
Kapiti Coast District
Masterton District
Carterton District
South Wairarapa District
23,045
18,842
17,758
17,155
15,038
14,949
14,340
14,129
13,996
Source: Statistics New Zealand,
Census of Population and Dwellings, 1996
Median household incomes were the second-highest in the country at $41,296 per annum,
compared to an average of $34,707 for New Zealand. One explanation for Auckland’s higher
household incomes may be the lower occupancy rates in the Wellington Region (2.77 people
compared to Auckland’s 3.01 people per dwelling). The region’s households also had the secondhighest average expenditure of $35,493 per annum.7 Expenditure on various household items was
very close to the national average but households in the region spent slightly more on food and
slightly less on housing.
Figure 9.13
Average Household Expenditure, Year Ended March 1997
Wellington
Item
Food
Housing group
Household operation(1)
Apparel
Transportation
Other goods group
Other services
Total
(1)
Annual
expenditure
($)
5,972
6,526
4,995
1,327
6,493
4,024
6,155
35,493
New Zealand
Percent
of
expenditure
16.8
18.4
14.1
3.7
18.3
11.3
17.3
100.0
Annual
expenditure
($)
5,431
6,719
4,546
1,246
6,033
3,814
5,355
33,145
Percent
of
expenditure
16.4
20.3
13.7
3.8
18.2
11.5
16.2
100.0
The household operation category covers the cost of running a household, and includes items such as heating,
the purchase of household items (eg furniture) and any non-food household services.
Source: Statistics New Zealand, Regional Household Expenditure Database
7
Source: Statistics New Zealand, Regional Household Expenditure Database.
23
New Zealand - A Regional Profile
Wellington
Number of children
On census night 1996 women in the Wellington Region recorded an average of 2.72 live births,
lower than the national average of 2.80 live births per woman. This was the third-lowest rate in the
country after Nelson and Auckland. Although Wellington mothers shared other characteristics
with mothers from the Auckland area, they tended on average to give birth more frequently at later
ages, only exceeding the New Zealand average after the age of 30 years.8 This tendency to give birth
at older ages probably relates to the high proportion of professional women in the region. Wellington
has the largest proportion of women in managerial, administrative and professional positions, who
perhaps delay having children in order to establish their careers.
Figure 9.14
Age Groups of Wellington Mothers, 1990-1997
Age group (years)
11-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
Wellington
(percent)
Auckland
(percent)
New Zealand
(percent)
0.0
6.5
19.0
31.3
30.1
11.3
1.7
0.1
6.8
20.2
31.4
28.3
11.3
1.8
0.1
8.6
25.5
34.4
23.0
7.3
1.1
Source: Statistics New Zealand, Vital Statistics
Health
The Wellington Region has eight hospitals and a total of 1,602 hospital beds (at September 1997).9
This equates to one hospital bed per 258 people compared to one hospital bed per 242 people
nationally. The region does, however, have a higher proportion of active general practitioners,
which at 85.0 per 100,000 population, is the second-highest in the country and above the national
average of 81.1.
Waiting lists for the Health Funding Authority (Central) which funds hospitals in the Wellington
Region, approximate the average for New Zealand, but fewer people wait 24 months or over for
elective surgery. Hospital discharges in the Health Funding Authority (Central) area increased by
3.6 percent between 1994 and 1996, a slightly lower percentage than the national average of 4.1
percent. There was considerable variability in the region with hospital discharge rates increasing by
between 2 and 5 percent in the Kapiti, Porirua, Wellington and Hutt hospital areas, but decreasing
by 7.8 percent in the Wairarapa.10
8
9
10
Source: Statistics New Zealand, Vital Statistics.
Source: Ministry of Health.
Source: New Zealand Health Information Service.
New Zealand - A Regional Profile
Wellington
24
People in the Wellington Region have the sixth-highest life expectancy in the country, which at
77.3 years (1995 - 1997 figures) is slightly above the New Zealand average.11 One of the reasons for
the higher life expectancy may be the lower infant mortality in the region. Smoking rates are
average for New Zealand, with 23.3 percent of people in the region smoking regularly compared to
23.7 percent nationally.
Figure 9.15
Crude Infant Mortality Rate, 1990-1997
Source: Statistics New Zealand, Vital Statistics
Crime
There were fewer reported offences per head of population in the Wellington Region than the
national average. For the year ended June 1997, 139 offences were reported per 1,000 people,
compared to 146 reported offences per 1,000 people nationally.12 Numbers of reported offences
have fallen from 60,831 for the year ended 30 June 1995 to 59,802 for the year ending 30 June 1997.
Dishonesty crimes predominate in the Wellington Region, as in the rest of New Zealand, although
the region has a slightly lower incidence of these crimes. Reported violent and administrative
offences were, however, higher than the national average. The higher proportion of administrative
offences could be related to the importance of the region as a centre for business.
11
12
Source: Statistics New Zealand, Regional Life Tables, 1995-97.
Source: New Zealand Police.
25
New Zealand - A Regional Profile
Wellington
Figure 9.16
Reported Crime per 1,000 People, Year Ended June 1997
Source: New Zealand Police
Within the region considerable variability existed with Masterton District and Porirua City having
the highest rate of reported offences per 1,000 people. Carterton, one of the most rural districts in
the region, had the lowest rate of reported offences. Conviction rates in these areas were also
higher: at 62 per 1,000 people in Masterton District and 67 convictions per 1,000 population in
Porirua City. In contrast, there were 39 and 40 convictions per 1,000 people respectively for Lower
Hutt and Wellington Cities (1996 figures).13 Reported offences of violence were high for these two
areas with Masterton District having 21.0 reported crimes of violence per 1,000 people and Porirua
City having 18.9 per 1,000 people.
Figure 9.17
Selected Offences per 1,000 People for Selected Areas, 1997
Area
Masterton District
Carterton District
South Wairarapa District
Kapiti Coast District
Porirua City
Upper Hutt City
Wellington City
Lower Hutt City
Wellington Region
New Zealand
Violence
Drugs and
anti-social
Dishonesty
Property
damage
Administrative
21.0
5.9
11.0
10.1
18.9
10.9
13.5
11.0
13.2
12.8
23.9
7.6
12.0
13.0
16.1
12.0
20.5
10.0
15.9
17.4
94.1
28.6
50.9
66.5
93.3
80.7
83.0
89.7
83.0
90.8
21.8
6.6
11.2
15.0
16.5
10.7
11.4
11.1
12.7
12.2
11.6
1.8
3.5
1.4
8.8
3.7
2.2
3.9
3.9
3.0
Source: New Zealand Police
13
Source: Philip Spier, Conviction and Sentencing of Offenders in New Zealand: 1987 to 1996, Ministry of Justice, 1997.
New Zealand - A Regional Profile
Wellington
26
Total
195.8
57.7
98.9
115.0
162.7
126.5
140.0
135.6
138.8
145.5
The economy
Business
Wellington businesses are of great importance nationally. In total there are 28,917 businesses in the
Wellington Region (as at June 1997), the second-highest figure in the country behind the Auckland
Region.14 The Wellington Region is the centre of many financial and business institutions as well as
being the centre of government administration. Twenty percent of the top 200 businesses in the
country (by annual turnover) had head offices in the Wellington Region.15 Although a significant
proportion of these were government owned or government subsidiaries, the majority were privatelyowned firms. Energy and information firms predominated. The region has the greatest proportion of
businesses engaged in financial and insurance services, property and business services, as well as
government administration and defence.
Figure 9.18
Business Types in the Wellington Region, 1997
Source: Statistics New Zealand, Annual Business Frame Update
Energy
Few energy or mineral resources exist in the Wellington Region, although there is considerable
potential for power generation through the use of wind turbine technology. In 1993 the Electricity
Corporation installed a wind turbine on Brooklyn Heights in Wellington City. By 1996 Hau Nui,
the first wind farm in New Zealand, situated in the Southern Wairarapa, began generating
electricity. Average wind speeds of 9-10 metres per second (35 kilometres per hour) buffet the site,
comparing well with wind farms in California and Europe which have average wind speeds of 6-7
14
15
Source: Statistics New Zealand, Annual Business Frame Update.
Source: “1997 Top 200 New Zealand Companies”, Deloitte & Touche Consulting Group, Management, December 1997, pp.68-91.
27
New Zealand - A Regional Profile
Wellington
metres/second. The wind farm generates enough electricity to power 1,500 homes, which is
approximately 6 percent of electricity needs in the Wairarapa. Although this initiative is not a large
scale enterprise, its success shows the possibilities for wind generation as an alternative form of
electricity.
Agriculture
Most people in the Wellington Region live in urban areas yet farming occupies almost two-thirds of
the land area. The mean farm size of 229 hectares is slightly smaller than the average for New
Zealand, of 251 hectares.16 Livestock dominates land use in the region with most land devoted to
grazing, fodder and arable uses. At June 1996 there were 2,243 farms in the region with the majority
of farms running beef cattle and sheep. The region has 4.5 percent of New Zealand total sheep
population and 9.8 percent of sheep in the North Island.
Figure 9.19
Farm Types for Wellington Region, 1996
Source: Statistics New Zealand, Agriculture Production Survey for the year ended 30 June 1996
Horticulture
Horticulture is not a significant contributor to the Wellington regional economy, but a total of 834
hectares is planted in fruit. However, Wellington has recently flourished as a wine-producing region
with most of this development occurring in the Wairarapa. The drier climate and suitable soils are
well-disposed to wine growing and the area has developed an excellent reputation for Pinot Noir
and Chardonnay. Since 1990 the Wellington Region’s membership of the wine institute has tripled,
from nine to 31 members, as has the number of hectares devoted to grape production.17 At 214
hectares, its capacity for grape production is equal to the Auckland and Canterbury Regions,
although well behind the regions of Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay and Marlborough.
16
17
Source: Statistics New Zealand, Agriculture Statistics.
Source: Wine Institute of New Zealand Incorporated - Annual Report, Year Ended June 1997.
New Zealand - A Regional Profile
Wellington
28
Forestry
There is a small but developing forestry industry in the region which benefits from proximity to good
transport services and a large urban population. There are 54,391 hectares of exotic forest in the
eight territorial authorities in the Wellington Region, with over half (31,928 hectares) in the
Masterton District.18 Radiata pine predominates, although the climate and soils would also suit
eucalyptus. Timber is exported through the Port of Wellington. In 1997 the port exported 158,000
cubic metres of timber.
Manufacturing
Although manufacturing is not as significant in the Wellington Region, the region has the highest
proportion of businesses engaged in printing, publishing and recorded media (14.4 percent of all
manufacturing businesses, compared to 8.8 percent nationwide). There are 3,100 workers (equivalent
full-time employees) working in this industry, a total of approximately one in seven total workers in
the industry nationally.
Buildings
Average house prices in the Wellington Region are lower than the national average of $183,986,
except for Wellington City.19 House prices in Wellington City are much higher than the average,
reflecting an increasing demand for city housing. Between June 1994 and December 1997 house
prices in the city increased by 37 percent compared to an average of 4 or 5 percent for the other
three cities in the region.
Figure 9.20
Average House Prices from June 1994 to December 1997
Source: Quotable Value New Zealand
18
19
Source: Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
Source: Quotable Value New Zealand.
29
New Zealand - A Regional Profile
Wellington
The number of building consents (both new and altered) has also increased by 25.2 percent
between 1991 and 1997 in the Wellington Region,20 probably partly fuelled by a rapid increase in
house prices in Wellington City.
Figure 9.21
Number of New Building Consents
Source: Statistics New Zealand, Building Consents
Retail trade
In recent years the Wellington economy has expanded. Wellington retail trade has increased by 5.8
percent between March 1996 and March 1998, one of the highest rates in the country and
considerably higher than the national average of 0.1 percent.21 The value of retail trade in the
region was $1,162 million for the quarter ended March 1998, the third-highest figure in the country
behind Auckland and Canterbury.
Tourism
Seasonality does not affect the region’s accommodation providers as much as other parts of the
country, so occupancy rates are consistently high, probably due to the number of business travellers
in the region. For the year ended March 1998 the Wellington Region averaged a total of 358,633
guest nights per quarter, representing 7 percent of guest nights in New Zealand over this period.22
Between December 1996 and December 1997 the total number of guest nights declined by 1.5
percent, compared to an increase of 1.5 percent for New Zealand, but visitor numbers picked up
sharply in the June 1998 quarter probably a reflection of the popularity of Te Papa. In this quarter
visitor numbers in Wellington City increased by 14.1 percent compared with a national increase of
8.5 percent.
20
21
22
Source: Statistics New Zealand, Building Consents.
Source: Statistics New Zealand, Retail Trade Survey.
Source: Statistics New Zealand, Accommodation Survey.
New Zealand - A Regional Profile
Wellington
30
Transport
The Wellington Region is one of the most important transport centres in the country. It represents
the transit point between the North and South Islands and is a centre for shipping, road and rail
transport, as well as domestic and international air travel. Wellington City has the busiest domestic
airport in the country by scheduled aircraft movements. The number of passengers travelling
through Wellington Airport is expected to increase from approximately 3.5 million passengers in
1998 to about six million in the year 2010. The majority of passengers are domestic, with only
354,000 international passengers in 1997.23 Ferries also transport people and goods from one island
to the other.
Wellington’s seaport loads about three percent of the total tonnage of shipping freight in New
Zealand and unloads approximately six percent of all tonnage. The value of cargo loaded through
the port was worth $731.3 million for the six months ended June 1998.24 Non-food manufactured
goods loaded at the port were worth $238 million, closely followed by dairy produce ($204 million)
and meat ($143 million). The importance of primary produce shows the strong links that the highly
urbanised region has with its rural hinterland.
Locally, the region has the most well-developed rail network, providing Wellington with an efficient
public transport system. There are 4,074 kilometres of road in the region, over half of which are city
roads.25 The predominance of city roads, a busy airport and the inter-island ferry terminal, probably
accounts for the region having the fourth-highest traffic volume in the country (3,177 million
vehicle kilometres per year (see glossary)), despite only having four percent of the total road length
in the country.
There were a total of 16,436 new or ex-overseas vehicles registered in the Wellington Region for the
year ended December 1997, 6.2 percent of the total registered nationally.26 About 40 vehicles were
registered per 1,000 population, considerably lower than the rate of 60 vehicles per 1,000 population
in the Auckland Region. The lower proportion of new vehicles registered probably reflects the
importance of public transport in the region, making private vehicles less necessary.
Wellington households also had the lowest proportion of motor cars in the country. A very efficient
public transport system links the main cities of the Wellington Region, which means there is less
reliance on private transport.
23
24
25
26
Source: Wellington Airport statistics.
Source: Statistics New Zealand, Overseas Cargo Statistics.
Source: Road Safety Atlas, Land Transport Safety Authority, Wellington, 1996.
Source: New Zealand Post.
31
New Zealand - A Regional Profile
Wellington
Figure 9.22
Number of Motor Vehicles per Household, 1996
Number of motor vehicles
None
1
2
3 or more
Wellington
(percent)
New Zealand
(percent)
15.1
46.1
30.1
8.6
12.0
42.8
33.4
11.7
Source: Statistics New Zealand,
Census of Population and Dwellings, 1996
The proportion of injuries in the region per 1,000 population, at 3.5 people was lower than the
national average of 4.1 people, despite the high traffic volume in the region.
New Zealand - A Regional Profile
Wellington
32
Definitions
Adult
Person aged 15 years and over.
Birth (fertility) rate
A measure expressing the number of births in relation to the size of the population from which these
births arose.
Census
A type of survey in which all members of a given population provide information at a given time.
These units may be people, companies, buildings, local authorities, etc. Statistics New Zealand
carries out a range of censuses at regular intervals, such as the Census of Population and Dwellings,
(at five-yearly intervals).
Child
Person under 15 years of age.
Country road
Defined by the Land Transport Safety Authority as a road with a posted speed limit of 70 km/h or
more.
Couple
Two persons who usually reside together, and are married or living in a consensual union.
Death (mortality) rate
A measure expressing the number of deaths in relation to the size of the population in which
these deaths occurred.
De facto population
The population enumerated in terms of its actual place of residence at a given time. Visitors from
overseas, who are in New Zealand on census night, are included in the de facto population. Thus
the de facto population is different from the usually resident population, which refers to people
who usually live in New Zealand.
Density (of population)
Average number of persons per square kilometre in a particular locality.
Dependency ratio
An indication of the burden of non-workers on workers. The conventional measure of dependency
is the sum of people aged 0-14 years and 65 years or more as a ratio of the number of people aged 1564 years. The child dependency ratio is the number of people aged 0-14 years as a ratio of the
number of people aged 15-64 years. The elderly dependency ratio is the number of people aged 65
years or over as a ratio of the number of people aged 15-64 years. The labour force dependency
33
New Zealand - A Regional Profile
Definitions
ratio is the sum of people aged 0-14 years and the number of people not in the labour force as a ratio
of the number of people in the labour force. The advantage of the latter is that it takes into account
variations in the labour force participation of women, and changes in the age at entry and age at
retirement from the labour force. The employment dependency ratio is the sum of people aged 014 years and people who are not employed (including those not in the labour force and those who
are unemployed) as a ratio of the number of people who are employed. This has the additional
advantage of taking into account changing levels of unemployment.
Dependent child
Person aged under 18 years who is not employed full-time.
Elderly
Person aged 65 years and over.
Employment status
A person’s status within the labour force. Including those in full- and part-time employment: paid
employee; self-employed and without employees; employer; and unpaid family worker.
Ethnicity / ethnic responses
The ethnic group or groups that people identify with or feel they belong to. Thus, ethnicity is selfperceived and people can belong to more than one ethnic group meaning that the total number of
ethnic responses for the target population will often exceed the actual number of people. Furthermore,
this affects percentages, in that they will often sum to more than 100 percent. An ethnic group is
defined as a social group whose members have the following characteristics:
share a sense of common origins
·
·
·
·
claim a common and distinctive history and destiny
possess one or more dimensions of collective cultural individuality
feel a sense of unique collective solidarity.
Life expectancy
The average number of years that a person could expect to live from a given age if a given set of agespecific mortality rates are applied without change for each successive year. Conceptually, it equals
the number of years of life remaining to all persons reaching a specified age in a life table, divided by
the number of persons reaching that age. The expectation of life is derived from a life table.
Family
A family consists of two or more people, who are members of the same household, and who comprise
either a couple, or at least one parent role/child relationship, or both.
Full-time
Persons working 30 hours or more a week.
New Zealand - A Regional Profile
Definitions
34
Full-time equivalent
Full-time equivalents are all full-time employees plus one-half of all part-time employees.
Guest nights
A guest night is equivalent to one guest spending one night at an establishment. For example, a
motel with 15 guests spending two nights each would report provision of 30 guest nights of
accommodation.
Household
One person who usually resides alone, or two or more people who usually reside together and share
facilities (such as eating facilities, cooking facilities, bathroom and toilet facilities, a living area).
Household operation
The household operation category (for household expenditure) covers the cost of running a
household, and includes items such as heating, the purchase of household items (eg furniture) and
any non-food household services.
Infant mortality rate
The number of deaths of infants under 1 year of age registered during a year per 1000 live births
during the same year. It should be noted that some of the infant deaths in the numerator of the
infant mortality rate occur to infants born in the year prior to that for which the infant death rate is
computed. Hence, the measure is only an approximation of the true risk of mortality during the year
of birth.
Labour force
Persons aged 15 years and over who:
regularly work for one or more hours a week for financial gain
·
·
·
are unpaid working in a family business
are unemployed and actively seeking either part-time or full-time work.
Labour force participation rate
The percentage of the total population aged 15 years or over who are in the labour force.
Institutionalised people and those in the armed forces are sometimes excluded.
Median
The value which divides a distribution or array so that an equal number of items is on either side of
it. For example, the median age is the specified age where one half of the population is older and one
half is younger.
Migrant
A person moving from one place to another. A return migrant is a person who moves back to their
place of origin.
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New Zealand - A Regional Profile
Definitions
Migration
Net overseas migration
The number of overseas arrivals into a country, less the number of overseas departures from a
country. When there are more arrivals than departures it is known as net immigration, and when
there are more departures than arrivals it is net emigration.
Net internal migration
Internal migration is determined by matching details supplied in the “usual address five years ago”
question on the census form against the current usual address. If the two are the same, then the
person is classified as a non-mover. If there are differences, then it is assumed that the person has
changed where they usually live. Internal migration recorded in this way tends to under-estimate
the true magnitude of movements that have taken place. This is because the census only looks at
two points in time, and there is no record of any other movements which may have occurred in
between. For example, multiple moves by a single person will be missed, as will return migration,
moves by people who have subsequently died, been born, or moved overseas since the 1991 Census.
A number of groups within the population are excluded from census-based internal migration analysis
because they have no previous address available. This could be due to a variety of reasons, including
being overseas at the time, being born after the 1991 Census, or providing a previous address which
could not be coded to an area. Overall, around 4 in every 5 New Zealanders were able to be included
in an analysis of internal migration flows between 1991 and 1996.
Natural increase
The excess of births over deaths. When deaths exceed births, there is what may be called a negative
natural increase or natural decrease.
New Zealand
Geographic New Zealand, that is, the North Island, South Island, and adjacent islands. Persons on
board ship in New Zealand ports or territorial waters are included in regional council area, North
and South Island, and New Zealand populations, but not in those of smaller administrative or
statistical units.
Non-private dwelling
A building or structure in which a number of generally unrelated people (either individuals or
families) live. Includes institutions and group-living quarters: hotels, motels, hospitals, prisons, hostels,
motor camps, boarding houses, ships and trains. They usually have common cooking and dining
facilities. Lounge rooms and dormitories can also be shared by the occupants.
Occupancy rate (for accommodation providers)
These are calculated by dividing stay unit nights occupied by stay unit nights available (a stay unit
is the unit of accommodation charged out to guests). If a motel had six of its ten units occupied
every night in July, it had 6 x 31 = 186 stay unit nights occupied. Its stay unit nights available
(capacity) would have been 10 x 31 = 310. So its occupancy rate would be 60 percent (186 / 310
x 100).
New Zealand - A Regional Profile
Definitions
36
Occupation
A set of jobs which involve the performance of a common set of tasks. It refers to the job, trade,
profession or type of work in which a person is employed for financial reward or as an unpaid worker
in a family business.
Part-time
Persons working less than 30 hours a week.
People not in the labour force
People who were not in the categories employed or unemployed. This category includes people who
were solely engaged in home duties, retired people, pensioners, people in institutions (hospitals,
gaols, sanatoriums, etc), trainee teachers, students and children under 15 years.
Permanent dwelling
A building or structure that is both fixed in location and of durable construction. This includes
houses, flats, baches, hotels and hospitals, but excludes tents, houseboats and caravans.
Population projections
Estimates of the future size and other demographic characteristics of a population, based on an
assessment of past trends and assumptions about the future course of demographic behaviour (fertility,
mortality and net migration).
Private dwelling
A building or structure in which one person usually resides alone, or two or more people usually
reside together and share facilities (such as eating facilities, cooking facilities, bathroom and toilet
facilities, a living area).
Ratio
A quotient which indicates the relative size of one number to another.
Regional council area (region)
The Local Government Amendment Act (No 3) 1988 provides for the constitution of these regions.
The geographical boundaries conform as far as practical to the boundaries of one or more water
catchments. Consideration was also given to regional communities of interest, civil defence, natural
resource management, land use planning, port facilities and environmental matters. At 31 March
1992, there were fourteen regions covering every territorial authority area in New Zealand except
for Chatham Islands District.
At 1 July 1992, the number of regions increased to sixteen following boundary reorganisation in the
northern South Island. Twelve of these regions are administered by regional councils while the
Gisborne, Tasman, Nelson and Marlborough Regions are administered by their respective district/
city councils. The boundaries of territorial authority areas are generally the same as regional council
area boundaries, although there are eight instances where territorial boundaries straddle regional
boundaries.
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New Zealand - A Regional Profile
Definitions
Regional council boundaries extend out to the Coastal Marine Area which is the seabed from the
line of mean high water spring tides extending to the territorial (12 mile) limit.
Rural area
An area not specifically designated as “urban”. This includes towns of fewer than 1,000 population
plus district territory where this is not included in an urban area. Rural areas also include offshore
islands.
Territorial authority areas
The smallest local government entities, created by the local government reorganisation that took
effect on 1 November 1989. There is a total of 74 territorial authority areas, comprising 15 cities and
59 districts.
A city must have a minimum population of 50,000 persons and be predominantly urban in character,
while a district serves a combination of rural and urban communities. The boundaries of territorial
authority areas are defined according to “community of interest” considerations to each other and
the ability of the unit to efficiently service its community.
Unemployment rate
For any group, the number of unemployed expressed as a percentage of the labour force (employed
plus unemployed) in the same group.
Unpaid work. Hours of unpaid work performed outside the household in the 4 weeks prior to the
1996 Census.
Urban area
A non-administrative area with urban characteristics and high to moderate concentration of
population. The classification of urban areas was revised for the 1991 Census of Population and
Dwellings, and comprises a three-part classification consisting of main, secondary and minor urban
areas, differentiated by population size:
(i)
Main urban areas - centres with populations of 30,000 or more. There are currently fifteen
main urban areas, eleven in the North Island and four in the South. Auckland, Wellington,
Hamilton and Napier-Hastings are further subdivided into zones.
(ii)
Secondary urban areas - centres with populations between 10,000 and 29,999. There are
currently fifteen secondary urban areas including Timaru, formerly a main urban area.
(iii)
Minor urban areas - centres with populations of 1,000 or more not already classified as
urban (ie not falling within a main or secondary urban area). There are currently ninetynine
minor urban areas and together with the above two categories they constitute the urban
population of New Zealand.
New Zealand - A Regional Profile
Definitions
38
Usually resident (de jure) population
The legal population of a locality. The de jure population at census is obtained by assigning all
persons to their usual place of residence. Overseas residents who are temporarily in New Zealand on
census night are excluded from the population, while those persons normally resident in an area in
New Zealand but who were enumerated elsewhere in New Zealand on census night are relocated to
their usual address.
Vehicle-kilometre
A vehicle-kilometre occurs when one vehicle travels a distance of one kilometre.
Vitals
Events such as births, deaths and marriages which influence the numbers of a population.
Working-age population. People aged 15-64 years.
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New Zealand - A Regional Profile
Definitions
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New Zealand - A Regional Profile
Bibliography
40
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publication, Date of publication
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