Te Puni Kōkiri: Waikato-Waiariki Regional Profile 2017

Te Puni Kōkiri measures a range of outcomes that fall within Whakapapa (te reo Māori and connection to iwi), Oranga (whānau well-being and whānau housing), Whairawa (whenua and whanaketanga), and Whanaungatanga (Crown-Māori relationships). This publication provides an insight into the growth and development of Māori within these outcomes in the Waikato-Waiariki region.

Te Puni Kōkiri has produced a Waikato-Waiariki Regional Profile 2017 based on data sourced from Statistics NZ including Census and Subnational Ethnic Population Projections: 2013-2023, as well as data from Ministry of Education, Ministry for Social Development, Ministry of Health, and the Electoral Commission.

The demographic structure of the Waikato-Waiariki population for 2013-2023 shows a 17% Māori growth rate over the ten year period while the national Māori growth rate is 20%. By 2023 the number of Māori aged 15 to 64 years will grow by 16%.

The Waikato-Waiariki Regional Profile 2017 shows a mix of improvement and decline across the measured outcomes.

There has been an increase in more Māori households having higher qualifications and more Māori 18 year olds have a NCEA level 2 (or above) qualification and most Māori tamariki have participated in early childhood education (95%).

There has been a slight decrease of Māori tamariki being immunised and two-thirds of Māori within Waikato-Waiariki live in highly deprived areas.

Although over one-quarter of Maori can speak te reo Māori, this has declined slightly. There has also been a very slight decline in the percentage of Māori knowing their iwi affiliations (86% to 85%).

The number of Māori households has increased with the highest rate of growth being households with one-person. The number of Māori households needing two or more additional bedrooms has decreased but the number of Māori rental households under stress has increased.

There has been a substantial increase in Māori household incomes in Waikato-Waiariki of 28% compared to 10% increase rate for non-Māori.

More Māori authorities and other Māori businesses are operating in Waikato-Waiariki and Māori businesses are employing more people.

If you have any enquiries about the data and the publication please email research@tpk.govt.nz.