Māori ethnic population estimates will next be updated when the 2018-base estimated resident population is published on 30 March 2020, Stats NZ said today.
The annual update to the Māori resident population, scheduled for publication on 14 November 2019, will be delayed until 2018 Census and 2018 post-enumeration survey results can be incorporated. The 2019 estimates will be published on 30 March 2020, along with revised Māori population estimates for 2014-18.
Stats NZ’s existing Māori population estimates are produced using data from the 2013 Census, and changes to the population since then, including births, deaths, and migration (process shown in diagram below). Māori population estimates include an additional estimated component – inter-ethnic mobility – to allow for people changing their ethnic identification over time.
Generally, the population estimates are a more complete and updated measure of the population, but they are always subject to revision when new census data are available. Stats NZ recommends using 2018 Census information about the Māori population until the estimates are updated.
Māori population estimates: At 30 June 2018 show the latest 2013-base estimates of New Zealand’s Māori ethnic population at 744,800.
2018 Census population and dwelling counts show the Māori ethnic ‘census usually resident population count’ was higher at 775,836 on census day, 6 March 2018.
Derived indexes
Derived demographic indexes that use Māori population estimates as a denominator are currently unavailable for periods after June 2019, until Māori population estimates are published in March 2020. These include total fertility rates, age-specific birth and death rates, and crude birth and death rates for the Māori population.
Rates for total population are still available. Infant mortality rates for both total and Māori populations are also still available.
All demographic indexes that use total or Māori population estimates as a denominator will be revised after March 2020, to incorporate new and revised population estimates.
Expected updates for population statistics 2019-20 has more information.
