1881 New Zealand census
| Ninth census of the Colony of New Zealand | ||
|---|---|---|
| ||
| General information | ||
| Country | New Zealand | |
| Results | ||
| Total population | 489,993 [1] (  18.22 %) | |
| Most populous | Otago (134,077) | |
| Least populous | Malborough (9,300) | |
The 1881 New Zealand census was a population count taken in 1881. The non-Māori census was taken on 3 April 1881, and the Māori census took place the following day.[2] The non-Māori population was 489,933, an 18.22% increase since the previous census in 1878.[3] The Māori population was estimated to be 44,097.[4] There were 4995 Chinese men and nine Chinese women in the country, with almost 3,500 of those living in Otago. Over 3800 of the Chinese in New Zealand worked on the gold fields.
As well as extensive population data, the census gathered information about fencing, farm equipment, livestock and poultry, and production of butter and cheese. The final results were submitted to parliament on 13 November 1882. Responding to comments about delays completing the census returns, the Registrar-General pointed out that an enormous amount of work was involved. It was difficult to find people to act as enumerators in sparsely-populated areas; horses had to be hired; schedules had to be thoroughly checked before being sent to Wellington; and temporary clerks had to be hired and supervised.[5]
Non-Māori population[edit]
| Provincial District[6] | Population | Percent (%) change since 1878 | Largest towns in Provincial Districts | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auckland | 99,451 | + 20.31% | Auckland | 16,664 |
| Taranaki | 14,858 | + 57.01% | New Plymouth | 3,310 |
| Wellington | 61,371 | + 20.17% | Wellington | 20,563 |
| Hawke's Bay | 17,367 | + 15.66% | Napier | 5,756 |
| Marlborough | 9,300 | + 33.06% | Blenheim | 2,107 |
| Nelson | 26,075 | + 3.77% | Nelson | 6,764 |
| Westland | 15,010 | −11.35% | Hokitika | 2,600 |
| Greymouth | 2,544 | |||
| Canterbury | 112,182 | + 22.04% | Christchurch | 15,213 |
| Otago (as after reunion with Southland) | 134,077 | + 17.13% | Dunedin | 24,372 |
| Invercargill | 4,596 | |||
| Chatham Islands | 242 | + 23.47% | ||
| Total | 489,933 | + 18.22% |
Birthplaces of the population[edit]
| Birthplace[7] | Number | Percent (%) of population |
|---|---|---|
| British Possessions: | ||
| New Zealand | 223,404 | 45.6 |
| Australian Colonies | 17,277 | 3.53 |
| England | 119,224 | 24.33 |
| Wales | 1,963 | 0.4 |
| Scotland | 52,753 | 10.77 |
| Ireland | 49,363 | 10.08 |
| British North America | 1,722 | 0.35 |
| Other British Possessions | 2,292 | 0.47 |
| Foreign Countries: | ||
| France and French Colonies | 848 | 0.17 |
| Germany | 4,819 | 0.98 |
| Austria | 513 | 0.1 |
| Switzerland | 332 | 0.07 |
| Italy | 483 | 0.1 |
| Norway | 1,271 | 0.26 |
| Sweden | 1,264 | 0.26 |
| Denmark | 2,199 | 0.45 |
| Other European Countries | 984 | 0.2 |
| United States of America | 841 | 0.17 |
| China (including 39 non-Chinese) | 5,033 | 1.03 |
| Other Countries | 1,190 | 0.24 |
| At Sea: | ||
| British Subjects | 1,288 | 0.26 |
| Foreign Subjects | 37 | 0.01 |
| Unspecified: | 833 | 0.17 |
| Total | 489,933 | 100 |
Māori census[edit]
The Māori population was estimated as 44,097, with 41,601 of those living in the North Island.[8] Census enumerators faced difficulties getting some Māori to cooperate with completion of the census. Some people were said to suspect that the forms were a government trick to take their land, or part of a plan to kill them.[9] The nomadic nature of the people also caused some enumeration difficulties, and in some cases estimates had to be made.[4] Although population numbers had gone up since the previous census, officers in many districts noted a general decrease in the number of Māori. This discrepancy was attributed to better enumeration.[4] In particular, there was a continuing drop in the number of children being born.[10] This was attributed to introduced diseases and vices such as smoking and drinking, as well as inadequate clothing. Another observation was that since the end of inter-tribal warfare, Māori had shifted their settlements from easy-to-defend hilltops, which had good sun and airflow, to swampy, damp areas.[11] Officers noted that in more remote areas where there was less European influence, there were more healthy children, and also that Māori in European-dominated areas who had jobs and lived in European-style houses tended to be healthier.[4]
| North Island: Principal Tribes | Population[8] |
|---|---|
| Arawa | 3,938 |
| Muaupoko | 81 |
| Ngatiporou | 4,381 |
| Ngatikahungunu | 4,730 |
| Ngaiterangi | 996 |
| Ngapuhi | 5,564 |
| Ngatimaniapoto | 1,528 |
| Ngatimaru | 1,349 |
| Ngatiawa | 1,869 |
| Ngatiraukawa | 1,443 |
| Ngatiruanui | 769 |
| Ngatiwhatua | 487 |
| Rangitane | 89 |
| Rarawa | 2,775 |
| Taranaki | 460 |
| Urewera | 1,850 |
| Waikato | 5,233 |
| Whanau-a-Apanui | 748 |
| Whanganui | 2,560 |
| Whakatohea | 625 |
| Various Tribes at Auckland and Thames | 126 |
| North Island Total | 41,601 |
| South Island (by residence)[12] | |
| Marlborough | 357 |
| Nelson | 203 |
| Westland | 63 |
| Canterbury | 601 |
| Otago, Ruapuke, and Stewart Island | 837 |
| South Island Total | 2,061 |
| Chatham Islands (Māori and Moriori) | 125 |
| Māori Prisoners from North Island in Hokitika, Lyttelton, and Dunedin Gaols | 310 |
| Grand total | 44,097 |
References[edit]
- ^ Non-Māori people
- ^ "Local and general". Poverty Bay Herald. 8 March 1881 – via Papers Past.
- ^ "Census of New Zealand 1881: Part 1: Population and houses". Statistics New Zealand. 13 November 1882.
- ^ a b c d "Census of New Zealand 1881: Appendix: Native census". Statistics New Zealand. 13 November 1882.
- ^ "Census of New Zealand 1881". Statistics New Zeaaland. 13 November 1882.
- ^ "Census of New Zealand 1881: Chapter 6. Population—Summary at sucessive census periods". Statistics New Zealand. 13 November 1882.
- ^ "Census of New Zealand 1881: Nationalities.—Subdivisions of Groups". Statistics New Zealand. 13 November 1882.
- ^ a b "Census of New Zealand 1881: Appendix: Maori Population in the North and South Islands". Statistics New Zealand. 13 November 1882.
- ^ "The difficulty of collecting the Maori census". Poverty Bay Herald. 22 April 1881 – via Papers Past.
- ^ "Maori census". Hawera and Normanby Star. 21 May 1881 – via Papers Past.
- ^ "[untitled]". Auckland Star [Evening Star]. 13 December 1882. p. 2 – via Papers Past.
- ^ "* The Natives resident in the South Island cannot well be classified in tribes, the information afforded by the Maori Census returns not being sufficiently explicit."