Provisional 2006 Census counts
The thirty-second New Zealand Census of Population and Dwellings was held on 7 March 2006. This Hot Off The Press details the provisional census night population and dwelling counts of New Zealand's regional council and territorial authority areas. The figures provide an approximate count of where New Zealand residents and overseas visitors were in New Zealand on census night.
Users of population data need to be aware of the differences in definition and coverage when choosing a population measure. The provisional census counts provide only an early indication of the number of people that Statistics New Zealand believes to have been in different local authority areas on census night. They do not give a measure of how many people usually live in a local authority area. For planning purposes, users of population data who want an accurate measure of the number of people who usually live in an area are advised to use population estimates.
New Zealand's provisional census night population of 4,116,900 was an increase of 296,150 (7.8 percent) on the 2001 Census figure. This compares with a 3.8 percent increase in the period between the 1996 and 2001 censuses.
The North Island's census night population increased by 231,820 (8.1 percent) to 3,102,500, while in the South Island there was an increase of 64,530 (6.8 percent) to 1,013,800. The North Island has retained three-quarters of the provisional census night population. Once visitors have been excluded, the census usually resident population count of the South Island is likely to be less than one million.
There has been little change in dwelling occupancy rates. The average number of people per dwelling on census night was 2.80, marginally up on the 2.79 recorded in 2001. The 1996 Census occupancy rate was 2.87.
Trends revealed by the provisional census night figures are generally consistent with published population estimates based on the 2001 Census.
Regional council areas
Since the 2001 Census, regions indicating the greatest growth are Auckland, with a provisional census night population increase of 12.4 percent (145,060), Canterbury (8.6 percent or 42,650) and Marlborough (7.9 percent or 3,370). On census night, the provisional population count for the Gisborne Region showed an increase of 9.9 percent or 4,360. However, this increase was due to the presence of cruise ships in the oceanic Gisborne Region. Without the inclusion of these ships, the census night increase for Gisborne would be closer to 1 percent.
Auckland was the region with the highest population (1,318,700), giving it 32.0 percent of New Zealand's provisional census night population. It had more than twice as many people as the next largest regions, Canterbury and Wellington, which had census night populations of 537,600 and 451,400, respectively.
No region recorded a decrease in provisional census night population. This compares with the previous intercensal period when five regions (Southland, Gisborne, Taranaki, Manawatu-Wanganui and West Coast) recorded decreases in census night population. On census night 2006, the smallest percentage increases were for Southland (0.2 percent) and Manawatu-Wanganui (0.6 percent). This compares with decreases of 6.3 percent and 3.4 percent, respectively, in the period between the 1996 and 2001 censuses.
The regions with the smallest numerical increases were Southland (up 230 to 94,600) and Taranaki (up 920 to 103,600).
The West Coast region had the smallest census night population, with 35,500 people. The next smallest regions were Nelson and Marlborough, with 44,900 and 45,900, respectively.
Territorial authorities
Provisional census night figures show that when compared with the 2001 Census, the Queenstown-Lakes District had the greatest percentage increase (29.2 percent to 32,500) of any territorial authority. The next largest increases were for Selwyn District (22.3 percent to 34,200), Manukau City (16.4 percent to 330,600), Rodney District (15.8 percent to 89,600) and Waimakariri District (15.2 percent to 42,200).
Other territorial authorities indicating significantly above-average census night growth between 2001 and 2006 were the cities of Tauranga (up 14.0 percent to 104,700), North Shore (up 12.1 percent to 207,600) and Hamilton (up 11.8 percent to 131,700), and the districts of Central Otago (up 14.7 percent to 17,150), Franklin (up 12.8 percent to 58,600) and Papakura (up 10.5 percent to 44,600).
Territorial authorities with provisionally the greatest numerical increases were the cities of Manukau (up 46,600), Auckland (up 39,630), Christchurch (up 26,730) and North Shore (up 22,340).
The highest provisional population counts were in the cities of Auckland (419,800), Christchurch (359,900), Manukau (330,600), North Shore (207,600) and Waitakere (183,700). The five most populous districts were Rodney (89,600), Whangarei (74,100), Hastings (72,400), Rotorua (70,400) and New Plymouth (69,000).
The territorial authority with the greatest decline in the past five years was Chatham Islands Territory with a decrease of 11.2 percent to 630. Other districts showing significant percentage decreases were Wairoa (down 7.6 percent to 8,440), South Taranaki (down 5.6 percent to 25,700) and Ruapehu (down 5.3 percent to 14,400). In the cases of Wairoa and Ruapehu, these decreases were considerably smaller than those of the previous intercensal period (9.5 percent and 17.1 percent, respectively). The provisional census night population count for South Taranaki indicates continued decline at a similar rate as for the 2001 Census count.
Far fewer territorial authorities showed a decline in census night population between 2001 and 2006 than in the previous intercensal period. In addition, the rate of decline between 2001 and 2006 is generally smaller than for areas that declined between 1996 and 2001.
In the five years since the last census, the largest numerical decline in population was recorded in South Taranaki District, with a decrease of 1,520, slightly less than in the previous intercensal period. The next largest numerical decreases were in Ruapehu District (down 800), South Waikato District (down 770) and Wairoa District (down 690).
The territorial authority with the smallest provisional census night population was Chatham Islands Territory, with 630 people. The next smallest populations were Kaikoura and Mackenzie districts with 4,810 and 5,390 people, respectively.
Dwellings
The provisional count of occupied dwellings in New Zealand on census night was 1,469,700. This was an increase of 101,500 (7.4 percent) compared with the 2001 Census, and up from the previous intercensal increase of 6.6 percent.
Additional information at area unit level
Additional information at area unit level can be found on the Statistics NZ website at www.stats.govt.nz.
Final counts
Final census population counts on a usual residence and census night basis, and counts of both occupied and unoccupied dwellings, will be available in late November 2006.
For technical information contact:
Adele Quinn or Adrienne Dunlop
Christchurch 03 964 8700
Email: info@stats.govt.nz
