Demographics

New Zealand’s 2006 Census of Population and Dwellings was held on 7 March 2006. There were 4 143 279 people in New Zealand on census night, an increase of 322 530 (8.4%) since the 2001 Census. Usual residents accounted for 4 027 947 and overseas visitors for 115 334. In the 10 years to March 2006, New Zealand's census-night population increased by nearly half a million (up 461 733 or 12.5%), and it has almost doubled in the last 50 years, from 2 174 061 in 1956 to 4 143 279 in 2006.

There were 1 965 621 male and 2 062 328 female residents counted, around 104 women for every 100 men. Women have outnumbered men since the late 1960s.

The median age of usual residents was 35.9 in the 2006 Census; in 1996, it was 33.0 years. This increase in the median age reflects the country's ageing population. The median age for males was 35.1 years, while the median age for females was 36.7 years, reflecting the longer life expectancy for women than for men.

2006 Census results show that the ethnic make-up of New Zealand has continued to change.

• The Mäori ethnic group has increased by 39 048 (7.4%) and now totals 565 329. One in seven people identified with the Mäori ethnic group.
• 'New Zealander' was a separate category for the first time in 2006; it was previously counted in the European category. Of those who identified themselves as New Zealanders, 12.9% also identified with at least one other ethnic group. New Zealander was the third-largest ethnic group, with 429 429 people or 11.1% of those who stated their ethnicity.
• Asian ethnic groups grew the fastest, increasing from 238 176 in 2001 to reach 354 552 in 2006 (an increase of almost 50%). The number of people identifying with the Asian ethnic groups has doubled since 1996, when it was 173 502. Those identifying with Pacific peoples ethnic groups had the second-largest increase from the 2001 Census, up 14.7% to total
  265 974.
• European remains the largest of the major ethnic groups, totaling 2 609 592 (67.6%) in 2006.

Political situation

Elections were last held in September 2005. A minority coalition Government was formed between two parties of the centre-left, the New Zealand Labour Party and the Progressive Party. Elections are held every three years under a mixed member proportional representation system. There are 120 seats in Parliament and there is no upper house. The next election is due in late 2008.

Socioeconomic situation

While the economy in New Zealand slowed over the course of 2007, economic activity has been very strong over the past year, by and large. The buoyancy due to immigration has outweighed the negative impulse from an appreciating exchange rate. This has left productive resources stretched. Rising housing prices are providing further impetus to domestic demand.

The moderate headline inflation rate reflects the net outcome of falling import prices and high domestically generated inflation. On current monetary policy settings, these factors are likely to continue balancing out and inflation should remain under control.

The New Zealand economy has averaged 4.0% annual growth in recent years. Over the period 2003-2006, the domestic economy, employment and income growth and high international commodity prices have been the main drivers of growth. Annual growth for the 2002/2003 and 2003/2004 years was 4.2% and 4.7%, respectively, growing to 4.8% in 2004/2005.

New Zealand continues to give priority to ensuring that overseas development assistance (ODA) activities foster the role of women in development. The ODA programme recognizes that the roles that women play, their economic contribution and the constraints on their time and activity, are essential factors in sustainable development. The review of the Women in Development (WID) Plan of Action concluded that significant progress had been made both in terms of increasing support for WID specific activities and in integrating gender considerations into all projects and programmes.

Vulnerabilities and hazards

Vulnerabilities and hazards derive from the geographical set up of a relatively small island country in the Pacific Ocean with limited natural resources.

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