KEY POINTS:
Men in New Zealand are still better paid than woman, according to the latest census figures to be released.
Three-quarters of those earning more than $70,000 a year were men while 63 per cent cent of those with personal income below $5000 a year were women, the March 2006 census found.
The median personal income of all adults in New Zealand on census night in 2006 was $24,400. The median means half received more than that and half received less.
The 2006 median was up from $18,500 in the 2001 census and $15,600 in the 1996 census. Rises in personal income outstripped prices in the period.
The census income data also confirms there are big disparities between regions.
The highest median personal income is in Wellington at $28,000 and it is also the region where the highest proportion -- 24 per cent -- earn more than $50,000 at year.
Auckland had annual median personal income of $26,800 and Waikato followed with $24,100.
The West Coast had the lowest median personal income of $20,400 and the highest proportion -- 49 per cent -- with personal income of less than $20,000 a year.
The census measured personal income from people aged 15 years or more who usually live in New Zealand and included income from all sources.
On census night the median income for all men was $31,500 compared to $19,100 for women.
However, women's median income increased by 32 per cent from the previous census, which was more than the increase in men's income of 27 per cent.
People aged between 45 and 49 years had the highest median personal income of $35,200 and 50 to 54-year-olds were second with $34,600.
Those aged between 15 and 19 years had the lowest median personal income of $3100, while 70 to 74-year-olds had a median income of $14,800.
- NZPA WGT pjg dj gt
