Migrant and Refugee Youth in New Zealand :
Statistical Profile, 1996 to 2007
MIGRANT YOUTH POPULATION IN NEW ZEALAND
Key findings
• The proportion of youth migrants from North Asia increased substantially over the three Censuses of Population and Dwellings (censuses) in 1996, 2001, and 2006 (up to 29 percent of all migrant youth and 39 percent of recent migrant youth in 2006). The increase was mainly in the group 18 to 24 years. A large proportion of all North Asian migrants were youth (around one-third at each census). North Asian youth were more likely than youth from other regions to come to New Zealand when they were older than 13 years.
• The proportion of migrant youth from China increased substantially from 2 percent in 1996 to 17 percent in 2006. In 2006, 27 percent of recent migrant youth were from China.
• Recent migrant youth from South Asia and United Kingdom (UK)/Ireland were comparatively small groups, but the number and proportion from these regions increased steadily over the period. The two regions comprised 9 percent each of recent migrant youth in 2006.
• Slightly fewer 12- to 17-year-old migrants were female than male and slightly more 18- to 24-year-old migrants were female than male.
• The proportion of migrant youth identifying as European decreased and those identifying as Asian increased from 2001 to 2006. Asian was the largest ethnic group in 2001 and 2006, with half of migrant youth in this category in 2006. Recent migrant youth were particularly likely to identify as Asian (63 percent in 2006).
• Youth were more likely than the total population to identify with more than one ethnic group. New Zealand-born youth were more likely to respond this way than overseas-born youth, and 12- to 17-year-olds overall were slightly more likely to respond in this way than older youth. Migrant youth who arrived in New Zealand before the age of five years were more likely than those who arrived at an older age to identify with two or more ethnic groups.
• The English language ability of migrant youth improved with their length of time in New Zealand, and 96 percent to 97 percent of youth from non-English-speaking regions could speak English after more than 10 years in New Zealand. A larger proportion of very recent youth in 2006 compared with earlier censuses could speak English.
• A larger proportion of youth who arrived in New Zealand before the age of five years could speak English than those who arrived after the age of 13 years. The proportion of youth from non-English-speaking regions who indicated they could speak English was larger than the proportion of all migrants.
Introduction
This chapter uses data from the 1996, 2001, and 2006 censuses to describe the size and demographic make-up of the migrant youth population. Aspects of migrant youth identity are explored in terms of the ethnic group or groups with which migrant youth identify, their age of arrival in New Zealand, and their English language ability. The focus is on the make-up of the migrant youth population as recorded at the 2006 census and relevant trends over the three censuses. A comparison of migrant youth with New Zealand-born youth is included, and separate data is provided for recent migrants.[37]
The limitations of census data need to be kept in mind. For example, the censuses do not identify the immigration approval category through which an overseas-born person came to New Zealand. These limitations are described in section 1.8.
Size and growth
New Zealand-born and overseas-born youth together comprised 19 percent, 18 percent, and 19 percent of the total population in 1996, 2001, and 2006 respectively.[38] Table 3.1 illustrates the increasing proportion of youth born overseas (14 percent in 1996 up to 22 percent in 2006). These figures represent a continued increase since 1986 and 1991 when 9.7 percent and 10.6 percent respectively of 12- to 25-year-olds were born overseas.[39] In numerical terms, there was a 40 percent increase in overseas-born youth from 112,338 in 2001 to 157,017 in 2006 (and a 76 percent increase over the three censuses).[40]
| Birthplace | 12-17 years |
18-24 years |
Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | |||
| Overseas-born (%) | 13 | 14 | 14 |
| NZ-born (%) | 87 | 86 | 86 |
| Total number | 300,894 | 356,475 | 657,369 |
| 2001 | |||
| Overseas-born (%) | 15 | 19 | 17 |
| NZ-born (%) | 85 | 81 | 83 |
| Total number | 319,707 | 330,114 | 649,821 |
| 2006 | |||
| Overseas-born (%) | 18 | 26 | 22 |
| NZ-born (%) | 82 | 74 | 78 |
| Total number | 356,436 | 364,350 | 720,786 |
Note: Excludes 34,806 in 1996, 25,275 in 2001, and 36,315 in 2006 who did not specify their country of birth.
Age
Figure 3.1 shows that while an increasing proportion of migrant youth are aged 18 to 24 years, the opposite is true for New Zealand-born youth. The proportion of overseas-born youth aged 12 to 17 years decreased over the three censuses, although they increased in number (from 40,554 to 62,655).
Figure 3.1 Age structure of youth (12-24 years), 1996, 2001, and 2006
Table 3.2 shows proportional increases in 18- to 24-year-olds from the Pacific, North Asia, and South-East Asia. The most notable increase was from North Asia with a 270 percent increase in the number of 18- to 24-year-olds over the three censuses (from 8,757 to 32,370).
| Region of birth | 1996 | 2001 | 2006 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12-17 years (row %) | 18-24 years (row %) | 12-17 years (row %) | 18-24 years (row %) | 12-17 years (row %) | 18-24 years (row %) | |
| Australia | 54 | 46 | 54 | 46 | 52 | 48 |
| ESANA | 48 | 52 | 49 | 51 | 47 | 53 |
| Pacific | 40 | 60 | 38 | 62 | 36 | 64 |
| North Asia | 52 | 48 | 38 | 62 | 29 | 71 |
| South Asia | 44 | 56 | 45 | 55 | 42 | 58 |
| South-East Asia | 39 | 61 | 37 | 63 | 35 | 65 |
| UK/Ireland | 39 | 61 | 44 | 56 | 54 | 46 |
| Other | 48 | 52 | 51 | 49 | 42 | 58 |
| Total | 45 | 55 | 43 | 57 | 40 | 60 |
Note:
ESANA = Europe (including Russia), South Africa and North America; UK = United Kingdom.
Gender
Slightly fewer 12- to 17-year-old migrants were female than male with a ratio of 0.95 at each census (see Table 3.3). For 18- to 24-year-olds, female migrants outnumbered male migrants, yet the ratio decreased over the three censuses (from 1.09 in 1996 to 1.01 in 2006).
In the age group 12 to 17 years, there were typically slightly more males than females from every region. There was more variation among 18- to 24-year-olds, with a higher ratio of females to males at each census from Australia; Europe (including Russia), South Africa, and North America (ESANA); the Pacific; and South-East Asia. The ratio was particularly high for those from the Pacific (ranging from 1.16 in 1996 to 1.11 in 2006) and Australia (1.07 in 1996 and 1.10 in 2006). Similar trends were apparent for recent migrant youth.
| Birthplace | 12-17 years |
18-24 years |
Total youth |
Total NZ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | ||||
| Overseas-born | 0.95 | 1.09 | 1.02 | 1.04 |
| NZ-born | 0.96 | 1.01 | 0.99 | 1.04 |
| 2001 | ||||
| Overseas-born | 0.95 | 1.03 | 1.00 | 1.06 |
| NZ-born | 0.96 | 1.00 | 0.98 | 1.05 |
| 2006 | ||||
| Overseas-born | 0.95 | 1.01 | 0.98 | 1.06 |
| NZ-born | 0.96 | 1.00 | 0.98 | 1.05 |
Note:
Excludes 34,806 at 1996, 25,275 at 2001, and 36,315 at 2006 who did not specify their country of birth.
Region of birth
Tables 3.4 and 3.5 show the regions of birth for all migrant youth and recent migrant youth. At each census, a large proportion of migrant youth were from North Asia. The proportion from this region increased substantially over the period from 21 percent to 29 percent.[41] Youth from the Pacific made up a significant number of migrant youth but the proportion from this region decreased over the period (although the number increased slightly). The proportions from ESANA and South Asia increased steadily over the period. In contrast, the largest proportions of the total migrant population were from UK/Ireland (38 percent in 1996, 32 percent in 2001, and 29 percent in 2006).
The largest group of recent migrant youth was from North Asia (37 percent in 1996 up to 39 percent in 2006). The proportion of recent migrant youth from South Asia was comparatively small, but increased steadily over the period (from 4 percent to 9 percent). The proportion of recent youth from UK/Ireland increased from 6 percent in 1996 and 2001 to 9 percent in 2006. The largest group of all recent migrants was also from North Asia, but the proportion decreased from 1996 to 2006 (29 percent to 24 percent).
| Region of birth |
1996 | 2001 | 2006 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12-17 years (%) |
18-24 years (%) |
Total (%) |
12-17 years (%) |
18-24 years (%) |
Total (%) |
12-17 years (%) |
18-24 years (%) |
Total (%) |
|
| Australia | 15 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 8 | 10 |
| ESANA | 13 | 12 | 12 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 17 | 13 | 15 |
| Pacific | 18 | 23 | 21 | 16 | 20 | 18 | 13 | 15 | 14 |
| North Asia | 24 | 18 | 21 | 22 | 28 | 25 | 21 | 34 | 29 |
| South Asia | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 7 |
| South-East Asia | 11 | 14 | 13 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 8 |
| United Kingdom/ Ireland | 13 | 17 | 15 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 15 | 8 | 11 |
| Other | 4 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 6 |
| Total (%) | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Total number | 40,554 | 48,870 | 89,424 | 48,138 | 64,200 | 112,338 | 62,655 | 94,362 | 157,017 |
Notes
Due to rounding, percentages may not sum to 100 percent.
ESANA = Europe (including Russia), South Africa and North America.
| Region of birth | 1996 | 2001 | 2006 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12-17 years (%) | 18-24 years (%) | Total (%) | 12-17 years (%) | 18-24 years (%) | Total (%) | 12-17 years (%) | 18-24 years (%) | Total (%) | |
| Australia | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 |
| ESANA | 13 | 11 | 12 | 19 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 11 | 12 |
| Pacific | 10 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 12 | 11 | 12 |
| North Asia | 43 | 31 | 37 | 30 | 38 | 34 | 27 | 47 | 39 |
| South Asia | 4 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 9 |
| South-East Asia | 11 | 21 | 16 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 8 |
| United Kingdom/ Ireland | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 14 | 5 | 9 |
| Other | 5 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 7 |
| Total (%) | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Total number | 17,463 | 18,297 | 35,760 | 20,250 | 25,614 | 45,864 | 27,480 | 44,001 | 71,481 |
Notes
A 'recent' migrant has been in New Zealand less than five years before the relevant census.
Due to rounding, percentages may not sum to 100 percent.
ESANA = Europe (including Russia), South Africa and North America.
Country of birth
Table 3.6 shows trends in the number of overseas-born youth from 20 major source countries residing in New Zealand at each of the past three censuses.[42] At each census, the UK and Australia accounted for large numbers of migrant youth. The numbers from these countries increased over the period (although there was a decrease in the number of UK youth in 2001, and proportions from both countries have decreased).
The substantial increase in migrant youth from China from 1996 to 2006 is of note, with an increase from 2 percent of migrant youth to 17 percent. The increase was mainly among 18- to 24-year-olds (from 1,095 in 1996 to 22,539 in 2006). Countries that comprised comparatively fewer migrant youth but saw steady increases over the period were South Africa, South Korea, Fiji, and India.
Australia and the UK were less important sources of recent migrant youth, although the proportion from the UK did increase over the period (in 2006, 4 percent were from Australia and 9 percent were from the UK). China was the largest source of recent migrants in 2001 (15 percent) and 2006 (27 percent).
| Country of birth | 1996 | 2001 | 2006 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Percentage (%) |
Number | Percentage (%) |
Number | Percentage (%) |
|
| China | 1,932 | 2 | 9,525 | 8 | 26,895 | 17 |
| United Kingdom | 13,095 | 15 | 11,544 | 10 | 16,518 | 11 |
| Australia | 11,346 | 13 | 12,759 | 11 | 15,597 | 10 |
| South Africa | 2,313 | 3 | 6,105 | 5 | 10,707 | 7 |
| South Korea | 3,714 | 4 | 5,964 | 5 | 9,660 | 6 |
| Fiji | 4,671 | 5 | 5,937 | 5 | 7,872 | 5 |
| Samoa | 7,485 | 8 | 7,545 | 7 | 7,584 | 5 |
| India | 1,338 | 1 | 3,081 | 3 | 7,401 | 5 |
| Taiwan | 4,824 | 5 | 5,682 | 5 | 4,095 | 3 |
| Malaysia | 4,713 | 5 | 3,483 | 3 | 3,573 | 2 |
| United States | 2,022 | 2 | 2,511 | 2 | 3,372 | 2 |
| Tonga | 2,355 | 3 | 3,141 | 3 | 2,988 | 2 |
| Philippines | 1,152 | 1 | 1,785 | 2 | 2,832 | 2 |
| Japan | 2,877 | 3 | 2,859 | 3 | 2,469 | 2 |
| Thailand | 1,560 | 2 | 1,911 | 2 | 1,932 | 1 |
| Iraq | 501 | 1 | 1,206 | 1 | 1,722 | 1 |
| Zimbabwe | 249 | 0 | 441 | 0 | 1,599 | 1 |
| Sri Lanka | 618 | 1 | 1,230 | 1 | 1,464 | 1 |
| Germany | 834 | 1 | 1,002 | 1 | 1,419 | 1 |
| Canada | 1,341 | 1 | 1,209 | 1 | 1,287 | 1 |
| Other | 20,469 | 23 | 23,256 | 21 | 25,779 | 16 |
| Total | 89,424 | 100 | 112,338 | 100 | 157,017 | 100 |
Note:
Due to rounding, percentages may not sum to 100 percent.
Length of time in New Zealand
Around 70 percent of migrant youth had been in New Zealand for less than 10 years at each census (see Figure 3.2). The proportion of recent migrants was 44 percent in 1996 and 2001 and 48 percent in 2006.
Figure 3.2 Duration of residence in New Zealand for migrant youth (12-24 years), 1996, 2001, and 2006
Note: Excludes 7,536 in 1996, 8,901 in 2001, and 7,890 in 2006 who did not specify their length of time in New Zealand.
Age of arrival
Table 3.7 shows the age of migrant youth when they arrived in New Zealand. Around 6 in 10 youth from Australia arrived before the age of five years. Generally, more than half of youth from Asian countries arrived when they were older than 13 years, with a particularly large proportion of North Asian migrants in this age bracket.
With each subsequent census, the proportion of migrants arriving after the age of 13 years increased. This trend varied by region of origin, with ESANA, the Pacific, and UK/Ireland having proportional increases for arrival after the age of 13 years, and the proportions for other countries fluctuating or decreasing. However, most countries had numerical increases in those arriving after the age of 13 years, because of the overall increase in migrant youth numbers over the three censuses.
Migrants' age of arrival is likely to have an impact on their outcomes in their new country. For example, it is likely that a large proportion of those who arrived after the age of 13 years travelled independently from their parents, whereas those who arrived at a younger age travelled with their parents and are more likely to have been fully educated in New Zealand. The analysis suggests that the age of arrival affects aspects such as the number of ethnic groups with which the migrant identifies and their English language ability (see sections 3.9.2 and 3.10.2).
| Region of birth | 1996 | 2001 | 2006 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 5 years | 5-12 years | 13 years and over | Under 5 years | 5-12 years | 13 years and over | Under 5 years | 5-12 years | 13 years and over | |
| (row %) | (row %) | (row %) | |||||||
| Australia | 62 | 24 | 15 | 62 | 25 | 13 | 60 | 26 | 14 |
| ESANA | 35 | 33 | 33 | 26 | 38 | 35 | 24 | 41 | 35 |
| Pacific | 36 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 31 | 34 | 29 | 33 | 38 |
| North Asia | 8 | 29 | 63 | 11 | 31 | 58 | 10 | 27 | 62 |
| South Asia | 13 | 29 | 58 | 12 | 35 | 53 | 10 | 40 | 50 |
| South-East Asia | 21 | 26 | 53 | 26 | 30 | 44 | 21 | 34 | 45 |
| United Kingdom/ Ireland | 54 | 31 | 15 | 47 | 36 | 17 | 36 | 40 | 25 |
| Other | 22 | 31 | 48 | 18 | 37 | 45 | 15 | 40 | 45 |
| Total | 33 | 29 | 38 | 29 | 32 | 39 | 24 | 34 | 43 |
Notes
Due to rounding, percentages may not sum to 100 percent.
ESANA = Europe (including Russia), South Africa and North America.
Ethnicity
The 1996 census ethnicity question differed from the questions used in 2001 and 2006, so the data is not comparable over time (see Appendix F).[43] The 1996 question had a bigger impact on the 'European' and 'Maori' ethnic groups than on the 'Asian' and 'Pacific peoples' ethnic groups.[44] Data from the three censuses is included in this section because comparisons between groups at each census are useful, but caution should be taken when comparing the 1996 data with 2001 and 2006 data.
A migrant's ethnicity and region of origin do not necessarily match. For example, as shown in Table G1 (Appendix G), a substantial proportion of youth from the Pacific region identified their ethnicity as Asian.
From 1996 to 2006, the proportion of overseas-born youth identifying with the European ethnic group decreased (see Figure 3.3).[45] The Asian ethnic group grew substantially over the period and comprised the largest group in 2001 (46 percent) and 2006 (50 percent). The Pacific group declined over the period (from 17 percent to 11 percent). A small proportion of migrant youth (2 percent in 2006) identified as Maori. Migrant youth who identified as Maori were mainly from Australia (see Appendix G) and may be the children of Maori New Zealanders who had previously moved to Australia. A smaller proportion of recent migrant youth than of all migrant youth identified with the European ethnic group at each census (26 percent in 2006) and a larger proportion identified with the Asian ethnic group (63 percent in 2006).
Compared with migrant youth, a larger proportion of all migrants identified as European (51 percent in 2006) and a smaller proportion Asian (32 percent in 2006). The main ethnic groups with which New Zealand-born youth identified at each census were European (72 percent in 2006) and Maori (24 percent in 2006).
Figure 3.3 Ethnic composition of migrant youth (12-24 years), 1996, 2001, and 2006
Notes
Excludes 957 in 1996, 1,395 in 2001, and 1,335 in 2006 who did specify their ethnicity.
People may specify more than one ethnicity.
The ethnicity question used in the 1996 census differed from that used in the 2001 and 2006 censuses.
MELAA = Middle Eastern, Latin American, and African.
Number of ethnic groups
A larger proportion of youth than of the total population identified with more than one ethnic group.[46] In 2006, 9 percent of all people in New Zealand (both New Zealand-born and overseas-born) identified with more than one ethnic group compared with 13 percent of youth. New Zealand-born youth were more likely than overseas-born youth to identify with more than one ethnic group (see Figure 3.4).
The proportion of overseas-born youth who identified with more than one ethnic group decreased slightly over the three censuses from 6 percent in 1996 to 3 percent in 2006.[47] For both New Zealand-born and overseas-born groups, 12- to 17-year-olds were slightly more likely than 18- to 24-year-olds to identify with more than one ethnic group.
There was variation by region of birth, with youth from Australia the most likely to select more than one ethnic group (14 percent in 2006); most often, the ethnic groups were European and Maori.[48] The vast majority of North Asian and South Asian youth identified with only the Asian ethnic group. Migrant youth were more likely to identify with more than one ethnic group the longer they had been in New Zealand. Most recent migrants identified with one ethnic group compared with 7 percent to 9 percent of those who arrived more than 10 years before each census.
Figure 3.4 Number of ethnic groups with which youth (12-24 years) identified, 1996, 2001, and 2006
Note: Excludes 27,546 in 1996, 20,709 in 2001, and 29,214 in 2006 who did not specify their country of birth or ethnicity.
Number of ethnic groups and age of arrival
Table 3.8 compares the number of ethnic groups with which migrant youth identified by their age of arrival in New Zealand. The length of time groupings that are included are ones for which data was available and enable comparison across relevant cohorts.[49]
For each length of time grouping, the tendency to identify with more than one ethnic group was higher for those who arrived at a younger age. Youth who arrived when they were 13 years or older were the least likely to identify with two or more ethnic groups.
| Age of arrival (years) |
Length of time in New Zealand (years) |
||
|---|---|---|---|
| 5-9 (%) |
10-14 (%) |
15 and over (%) |
|
| 1996 | |||
| Under 5 | 7 | 11 | 9 |
| 5-12 | 6 | 6 | 5 |
| 13 and over | 3 | 0 | - |
| 2001 | |||
| Under 5 | 5 | 6 | 8 |
| 5-12 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| 13 and over | 1 | 0 | - |
| 2006 | |||
| Under 5 | 4 | 8 | 9 |
| 5-12 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| 13 and over | 1 | 0 | - |
English language ability
Of all youth born overseas, more than 90 percent at each census were able to speak English.[50] As would be expected, English language ability improved with length of time in New Zealand - nearly all migrant youth who arrived in New Zealand 10 or more years before each census could speak English. The remainder of this section focuses on youth from regions with larger proportions of non-English speakers.[51] The English language abilities of 12- to 17-year-olds and 18- to 24-year-olds were found to be similar. For this reason, data for the two age groups is combined with notable differences reported in the text.
Migrant youth from non-English-speaking regions
As is shown in Table 3.9, an increased proportion of very recent migrants (in New Zealand for less than two years) could speak English at each census (up to 84 percent in 2006). Immigration policy changes over the years would have contributed to this increase.[52] English language ability improved with length of time in New Zealand, and between 96 percent to 97 percent of youth in New Zealand for 10 to 14 years could speak English. A larger proportion of youth than of all migrants from non-English-speaking regions could speak English; for example, of all migrants who had been in New Zealand for 10 to 14 years, 83 percent in 1996, 87 percent in 2001, and 85 percent in 2006 stated they could speak English.
| Length of time (years) |
Proportion who could speak English (%) |
||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 2001 | 2006 | |
| Under 2 | 75 | 83 | 84 |
| 2-4 | 84 | 92 | 91 |
| 5-9 | 90 | 95 | 94 |
| 10-14 | 96 | 97 | 97 |
| 15 and over | 98 | 99 | 99 |
| Total | 85 | 91 | 92 |
Excludes 2,376 in 1996, 5,646 in 2001, and 2,799 in 2006 who did not specify English language ability.
Data is not reported separately for those who did not specify their length of time in New Zealand, although these individuals are included in the total.
English language ability and age of arrival
As well as duration of residence, the age at which youth arrived in New Zealand appears to affect their English language ability (see Table 3.10). At each census, a larger proportion of those who arrived before the age of five years could speak English compared with those who arrived when they were older than 13 years. This effect is still evident after controlling for length of time in New Zealand. For example, of those who had been in New Zealand for five to nine years at the 1996 census, 95 percent of those who arrived before the age of five could speak English, as could 92 percent who arrived aged five to 12 years and 87 percent who arrived at age 13 years or older. A similar trend was noticeable in 2001 and 2006.
| Age of arrival (years) |
Proportion who could speak English (%) |
||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 2001 | 2006 | |
| Under 5 | 93 | 95 | 95 |
| 5-12 | 88 | 94 | 94 |
| 13 and over | 80 | 88 | 89 |
| Total | 85 | 91 | 92 |
English language ability and region of birth
Figure 3.5 shows an increase in the proportion of English-speaking migrant youth from all regions across the three censuses. Youth from North Asia had smaller proportions of English speakers, particularly in 1996. Recent youth from North Asia also had smaller proportions of English speakers (86 percent in 2006) compared with recent youth from other regions.
Figure 3.5 Proportion of English-speaking migrant youth (12-24 years) by region of birth, 1996, 2001, and 2006
Excludes 1,194 in 1996, 2,916 in 2001, and 1,524 in 2006 who did not specify their English language ability.
[37] Recent migrants are migrants who have been in New Zealand for less than five years at the relevant census.
[38] Includes those who did not state their country of birth.
[39] Statistics New Zealand (1998).
[40] Excludes those who did not state their country of birth.
[41] At each census, nearly one-third of the total North Asian migrant population were aged 12 to 24 years.
[42] The countries were selected based on the top 20 residence approval sources from 1998 to 2006.
[43] The question used in the 2001 and 2006 censuses was the same.
[44] Statistics New Zealand (2008a).
[45] Part of the decrease between 1996 and 2001 will be due to the different census question that was used in 1996. There was a large increase in ‘Other European’ responses in 1996 associated with the tick boxes provided, and a corresponding decrease for these ethnicities in 2001 (Statistics New Zealand, 2008b).
[46] Appendix G contains data on ethnicity by region of origin for youth.
[47] An impact of the different ethnicity question used in 1996 was an increase in the number of people identifying with more than one ethnic group than in 1991, which will account for some of the difference.
[48] All migrants from Australia were also more likely than migrants from other regions to identify with more than one ethnic group.
[49] It is not possible to include all length of time groupings, for example, no 12- to 24-year-olds in the country for less than two years arrived before the age of five years.
[50] The census question relating to English language ability asks, ‘In which language(s) could you have a conversation about a lot of everyday things?’.
[51] The regions include the Pacific, North Asia, South Asia, South-East Asia, and ‘Other’. A larger proportion of migrants from these regions indicated that they could not speak English.
[52] The 1995 General Skills Category replaced the 1991 General Category in October 1995. A minimum level 5 on the International English Language Testing System was required for principal applicants and secondary applicants aged over 15 years (secondary applicants could pay a bond if requirements were not met). The English language requirements were strengthened further as part of immigration policy changes in November 2002.