Wairarapa Maori, Asian numbers to grow

Maori, Asian, and Pacific populations will rise in nearly all regions and territorial authorities in New Zealand, according to Statistics New Zealand. FILE PHOTO

Maori and Asian populations in Wairarapa will grow in future years, according to projections released by Statistics New Zealand.

By 2038, Maori will make up 31 per cent of Masterton's population, 19 per cent of Carterton's and 21 per cent of South Wairarapa's. Meanwhile, people identifying as Asian will make up 5 per cent of Masterton's population, 4 per cent of Carterton's and 5 per cent of South Wairarapa's.

The proportion of Pasifika will also grow in Masterton and South Wairarapa, while people identifying as European or Other (including New Zealander) will drop in Carterton, increase in South Wairarapa and stay the same in Masterton.

Under the Statistics NZ criteria, people can identify with more than one ethnicity. The projections are based on different combinations of fertility, mortality, migration, and inter-ethnic mobility assumptions.

The entire country is projected to have increasing ethnic diversity over the next two decades, with 18 per cent of the population expected to identify with more than one of the four main ethnic groupings by 2038 - up from 11 per cent in 2013.

Maori, Asian, and Pacific populations will rise in nearly all regions and territorial authorities, but those identifying as "European or Other" will represent a lesser share of people.

The Maori population will make up nearly 20 per cent of the total population by 2038, up from nearly 16 per cent in 2013.

Meanwhile, the Asian population will increase from 12 per cent in 2013 to 21 per cent in 2038.

The Pacific population will also increase, from 8 per cent in 2013 to 11 per cent in 2038.

African, Middle Eastern and Latin American populations are also expected to grow nationally but the numbers are too small for Statistics New Zealand to project percentage growth.

The "European or Other" population will drop from 75 per cent in 2013 to 66 per cent in 2038.

All four ethnic populations will age, with increasing numbers and proportions of their populations at the older ages.