Population

Numbering 265,000 in 1996, Māori women make up 14% of all women in New Zealand, and 7% of the total New Zealand population. By 2046, the number of Māori women is expected to reach 480,000. By this time, Māori women will comprise 21% of the total population of women and 11% of the total New Zealand population. (A more detailed analysis of demographic trends is available in the report Māori Towards 2000 (Te Puni Kōkiri 1998a). . Māori women outnumber Māori men (by 7,500) and have a higher life expectancy at birth (Figure 3). These gender differences also occur in the non-Māori population.)

The Māori female population is relatively young. In 1996, 36% of Māori women were younger than 15 and only 3% were 65 and over. The comparable figures for non-Māori women were 20% and 15% respectively (Figure 1).

Figure 1 Age structure of Māori and non-Māori women, 1996

Source: Statistics New Zealand 1997c, d

Over the next 50 years, the population of Māori women is expected to get progressively older. A marked increase in numbers is expected in the 45 and over age group, but growth will be most rapid in the oldest age group. Over the period, the number of Māori women 65 years and over is expected to increase seven-fold. By comparison, growth in the numbers of young Māori women will be slower. The number of 0–14 year-olds will increase by just over 20% and the 15–24 year-old population is expected to increase by about a third (Figure 2). Nevertheless, in the future the Māori female population will continue to remain younger than the non-Māori female population. (A more detailed analysis of demographic trends is available in the report Māori Towards 2000 (Te Puni Kōkiri 1998a).

Figure 2 Projected numbers of Māori women by age, selected years to 2046

Source: Statistics New Zealand 1998j

Growth in the number of women in different age groups can be attributed to changes in fertility in earlier decades, and improving life expectancy. Compared with the 1960s, Māori fertility is currently very low. Between 1962 and 1983 the Māori total fertility rate fell from 6.2 to 2.2 births per woman, and has remained relatively stable since (Table 1). The rate is expected to continue at its current level until 2007 when it is projected to drop slightly to 2.1.

Table 1: Total fertility rates of Māori and non-Māori women, selected years 1962-1995

Source: Statistics New Zealand 1998e

Note: From 1 September 1995 a new ethnicity question was asked on the birth registration form. This new question (based on the concept of self identification), may collect more Māori births than the previous 'degree of blood question'. As a result, 1995 data is not comparable with earlier years and any change in patterns from this date may reflect definitional changes rather than an actual change in fertility.

Declining fertility has been accompanied by steadily improving life expectancy. In 1992, a new-born Māori girl could expect to live 73 years, compared with 56 in 1952 (Figure 3). This gain results from declining infant mortality in the early part of the period, followed by a reduction in mortality in the middle and older age groups from 1970 to the early 1990s. Over the years, the difference in the life expectancy at birth between Māori and non-Māori girls has decreased, from 17 years in 1952 to six years in 1992 (Figure 3).

Figure 3 Life expectancy at birth of Māori and non-Māori girls and boys, 1950-1992

Source: Pomare et al 1995

Geographical distribution
Consistent with the regional distribution of the total Māori population, over half of all Māori women (58%) live in the northern half of the North Island. A quarter of all Māori women are located in the Auckland region and another quarter are in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions. Much smaller proportions of Māori women live in the more rural regions of Gisborne, Northland, Hawke's Bay and Manawatu (Figure 4).

However in some regions such as Gisborne and Northland, Māori women make up a high proportion of all the women living in these regions.

Figure 4 Distribution of Māori and non-Māori women by region, 1996

Source: Statistics New Zealand 1997c, e

Table 2 Distribution of Māori and non-Māori women in New Zealand, 1996

Source: Statistics New Zealand 1998h

In the 1990s, most Māori live in urban areas. However, as Table 2 shows, Māori women are more likely than non-Māori women to live outside the five largest urban centres. In 1996, 65% lived in provincial cities and towns, smaller urban centres, and rural areas compared with just on half of all non-Māori women. Because of their distribution, Māori women are unlikely to have the same access to services (eg, health and welfare) and education and employment opportunities, as their non-Māori counterparts.

Back to top

[ Previous | Contents | Next ]