Pacific Islander and Maori population size and distribution

Pacific Islander and Maori population size and distribution

Pacific Islander communities have been described as ‘statistically invisible’ in Australia, because many have migrated from or through New Zealand, and are identified in Australian Census data as New Zealanders. The number of Pacific Islander people in Queensland may be significantly higher than what is captured in official data. Community informants advise that people may tick ‘other’ and not their country of birth or ancestry on forms such as the Census form.

Ancestry data, rather than country of birth, are a more accurate reflection of population size for Pacific Islander communities.

As shown, 67,167 Queenslanders identified a Pacific Islander ancestry in the 2006 Census. In addition, 5336 Queenslanders identified an Indian ancestry and were born in Fiji. In total, there were 72,503 Queenslanders from Pacific Islander backgrounds, comprising at least 2 per cent of the Queensland population. However the current true figure is likely to be significantly higher based on community informant advice that this data is under-representative, rapid population growth in the Maori and Samoan populations, and research which indicates underreporting of Maori ancestry in the Australian Census.

Pacific Islander populations are growing rapidly in Queensland. According to the 2006 Census, the total number of Pacific Islander people and New Zealanders in Queensland rose by approximately 30 per cent between 2001 and 2006. These communities are projected to continue to grow rapidly with 21 per cent of migrants from New Zealand identifying as either Maori or Polynesian and New Zealand remaining Queensland’s largest source of migrants.

The population distribution is available by statistical subdivision.

Pacific Islander and Maori populations by Queensland statistical subdivisions (2006 Census)