Diverse Auckland: The face of New Zealand in the 21st century?

Abstract

ThE 2006 NEW ZEALAND CENSuS revealed an increasingly diverse population in terms of ethnicity and demography. The 20 years leading up to this Census, following the introduction of the immigration Act in 1987, witnessed one of the most dramatic transitions in ethnic composition that New Zealand has ever experienced. The most notable aspect of this change has been the growth of the populations of Asian origin, although other populations have also grown. With about two-thirds of all Asian migrants settling in Auckland, this region has been the focus of much of this change, and it might be claimed that Auckland represents ‘the face of New Zealand in the 21st century’ since we can expect changes in Auckland to foreshadow changes that will spread to other parts of the country. These recent and projected changes have important implications for New Zealand in terms of economic development and policy related to service provision, culture and education as well as for the evolution of national identity.