Increase in income levels for Pacific peoples
The median annual income for adults (people aged 15 years and over) of Pacific ethnicity was:
- $20,500 in 2006.
- $14,800 in 2001.
This was lower than the median annual income for New Zealand overall ($24,400).
Income levels are related to age. The Pacific ethnic group has higher proportions of people in the younger age groups than the overall New Zealand population, and people in the younger age groups tend to have lower incomes than people in the older age groups.
- Pacific peoples with an income of $5,000 or less were most likely to be aged 15 to 19 years.
- Pacific peoples with an income of $50,001 or more were most likely to be aged 35 to 39 years.
Income levels are also related to employment.
- Pacific peoples with an income of $20,001 or more were most likely to be employed full time.
Men of Pacific ethnicity had higher income levels than women of Pacific ethnicity.
- The median annual income for adult men of Pacific ethnicity was $24,500 compared with $17,400 for women.
Income sources of Pacific peoples
The most common source of income for adults of Pacific ethnicity in 2006 was wages, salaries, commissions and bonuses paid by an employer, as it was in 2001. The proportions of Pacific men and women receiving this type of income both increased since 2001.
- In 2006, 68 percent of adult men of Pacific ethnicity received this type of income, up from 63 percent in 2001.
- For adult women of Pacific ethnicity, 57 percent were receiving this type of income in 2006, up from 53 percent in 2001.
Adult men of Pacific ethnicity were twice as likely as women to receive income from self-employment or a business:
- 6 percent of men received this income compared with 3 percent of women.
Adult women of Pacific ethnicity were more likely than men to receive income support:
- 32 percent of women received income support compared with 18 percent of men.