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Population

At 30 June 2025

Population for the Māori ethnic group

2023 Census

Number of families

Median age

Median age for the Māori ethnic group

People who can speak te reo Māori

Number of businesses

At February 2025

Adults with a post-school qualification

Median personal income of adults

Number of private dwellings

Households who own their home or hold in a family trust

Median weekly rent paid by households

This section shows the number of people who live in &selection, compared with &comparison (shown in a separate graph and table).

https://www.stats.govt.nz/topics/population

This data is for the census usually resident population count and the estimated resident population (ERP as at 30 June).

See the metadata tab to learn more about this data.

Data points with * in the table are confidential, not available, or not applicable.

The census usually resident population count is rated as very high quality. The census usually resident population count of an area (subnational count) is a count of all people who usually live in that area and were present in New Zealand on census night. It excludes visitors from overseas, visitors from elsewhere in New Zealand, and residents temporarily overseas on census night. For example, a person who usually lives in Christchurch city and is visiting Wellington city on census night will be included in the census usually resident population count of Christchurch city. #curpc has more information, for example, definitions and data quality.

The census usually resident population count has had fixed random rounding applied to protect confidentiality. Individual figures may not sum to totals.

#erp is based on the census usually resident population counts with additions for:

• usual residents who were temporarily overseas on census night (and therefore not counted in the census usually resident population count)

• net census undercount as measured by post-enumeration surveys (eg #pes)

• population change between census night and the date of the estimate, from births, deaths, and migration (within New Zealand and to / from other countries).

Stats NZ publishes a number of different population counts, each using a different definition and methodology. #popuserguide has more information about different counts.

Population of &dynamic, 1996–2025

This section shows the number of people who identify with the Māori ethnic group and live in &selection, compared with those who live in &comparison (shown in a separate graph and table).

Subnational population estimates for the Māori ethnic group are only available for each census year.

Māori ethnicity is rated as high quality. #ethnicity has more information, for example, definitions and data quality.

#erp is based on the census usually resident population count with additions for:

• population change between census night and the date of the estimate, due to births, deaths, and migration (within New Zealand and to / from other countries).

Māori population estimates for 2013 derived from the 2013 Census are an underestimate. #underestimation has more information about this. For revised annual national-level Māori ethnicity population estimates, see #infoshare (Population > Population Estimates).

Māori ethnic group population of &dynamic, 1996–2023

This section shows the median age of people who live in &selection (columns on graph), compared with &comparison (horizontal lines on graph).

Half of the people in the population are older than the median age, and half younger.

This data is for the census usually resident population count.

Age is rated as very high quality. #age has more information, for example, definitions and data quality.

Median age is calculated using single-year-of-age data. For categories with small populations, the median age reported may differ from that expected because of the effects of noise and rounding. Caution is advised when using median data in small populations.

Median age of population, &selection and &comparison, 2013–2023 Censuses

This section shows the median age of people who identify with the Māori ethnic group and live in &selection (columns on graph), compared with those who live in &comparison (horizontal lines on graph).

Median age of Māori ethnic group population, &selection and &comparison, 2013–2023 Censuses

This section shows four broad ‘life-cycle’ age groups for people who live in &selection (columns on graph), compared with &comparison (horizontal lines on graph).

Census data has had fixed random rounding applied to protect confidentiality. Individual figures may not sum to totals.

Life-cycle age groups

Percentage of population by life-cycle age group, &selection and &comparison, 2013–2023 Censuses

This section shows four broad ‘life-cycle’ age groups for people who identify with the Māori ethnic group and live in &selection (columns on graph), compared with those who live in &comparison (horizontal lines on graph).

Life-cycle age groups for the Māori ethnic group

Percentage of Māori ethnic group population by life-cycle age group, &selection and &comparison, 2013–2023 Censuses

This section shows five-year age groups for people who live in &selection (bars on graph), compared with &comparison (vertical lines on graph).

Five-year age groups

Percentage of population by five-year age group, &selection and &comparison, 2023 Census

This section shows five-year age groups for people who identify with the Māori ethnic group and live in &selection (bars on graph), compared with those who live in &comparison (vertical lines on graph).

Five-year age groups for the Māori ethnic group

Percentage of Māori ethnic group population by five-year age group, &selection and &comparison, 2023 Census

Gender

This section shows gender by 'life-cycle' age group for people who live in &selection (columns on graph), compared with &comparison (horizontal lines on graph).

Gender and age combinations are shown as a percentage of the usually resident population in the area.

Gender is rated as high quality. #gender has more information, for example, definitions and data quality.

Data for 'another gender' should be used with caution at levels of geography below TALB (e.g. Statistical Area 2), or when cross tabulated with lower levels of other census data.

Gender and age

Percentage of population by gender and age, &selection and &comparison, 2023 Census

This section shows gender by ‘life-cycle’ age group for people who identify with the Māori ethnic group and live in &selection (columns on graph), compared with those who live in &comparison (horizontal lines on graph).

Gender and age combinations are shown as a percentage of the usually resident Māori ethnic group population in the area.

Gender and age for the Māori ethnic group

Percentage of Māori ethnic group population by gender and age, &selection and &comparison, 2023 Census

Relationship status

This section shows the partnership status of people who live in &selection (columns on graph), compared with &comparison (horizontal lines on graph).

The term 'nfd' in the category 'Partnered, nfd' stands for not further defined. This is used when no more specific information about the type of partnership is available.

This data is for the census usually resident population count aged 15 years and over.

Partnership status in current relationship is rated as moderate quality. #partnership has more information, for example, definitions and data quality.

Due to data quality issues, civil union data is output as ‘partnered, nfd’ for partnership status in current relationship in the 2013 and 2018 Censuses. 

Partnership status in current relationship

Percentage of population by partnership status in current relationship, &selection and &comparison, 2013–2023 Censuses

This section shows the partnership status of people who identify with the Māori ethnic group and live in &selection (columns on graph), compared with those who live in &comparison (horizontal lines on graph).

Partnership status in current relationship for the Māori ethnic group

Percentage of Māori ethnic group population by partnership status in current relationship, &selection and &comparison, 2013–2023 Censuses

Births and deaths

• the number of live births of children to mothers from &selection

• the number of deaths of people who lived in &selection.

A second graph and table shows the same for people in &comparison for comparison.

https://www.stats.govt.nz/topics/births-and-deaths

This data is the number of births and deaths of people resident in New Zealand registered during a given period.

This data is the number of births and deaths of people resident in New Zealand registered during a given period. They may differ from statistics presented elsewhere that relate to all births and deaths registered in New Zealand or to births and deaths occurring during a given period.

#births and #deaths have more information about these variables.

Births and deaths data has been randomly rounded to protect confidentiality. Individual figures may not add up to totals, and values for the same data may vary in different tables.

Number of births and deaths, &dynamic, year ended March 2013–2025

• the number of live births of children in the Māori ethnic group to mothers from &selection

• the number of deaths of people in the Māori ethnic group who lived in &selection.

A second graph and table shows the same for people in &comparison for comparison. 

Births and deaths for the Māori ethnic group

Number of births and deaths of the Māori ethnic group population, &dynamic, year ended March 2013–2025

Number of children born

This section shows the average number of children born to sex-at-birth females in each five-year age group for those who live in &selection (columns on graph). The same is also shown for those who live in &comparison for comparison (horizontal lines on graph).

This data is for the sex-at-birth female census usually resident population count aged 15 years and over.

Number of children born is rated as high quality. #childrenborn has more information, for example, definitions and data quality.

#sexatbirthmethods has more information about the sex at birth concept. The 2023 Census collected the sex at birth concept, while prior censuses collected information on the sex concept, with no further clarification of what that meant. Historical data in time-series tables will use results from the sex concept prior to the 2023 Census and should be interpreted with care.

Measures like averages, medians, and other quantiles are calculated from unrounded counts, with input noise added to or subtracted from each contributing value during measures calculations. Averages and medians based on less than six units (e.g. individuals, dwellings, households, families, or extended families) are suppressed.

Average number of children born by age

Average number of children born to each sex-at-birth female, by age, &selection and &comparison, 2023 Census

This section shows the average number of children born to sex-at-birth females in each five-year age group for those who identify with the Māori ethnic group and live in &selection (columns on graph). The same is also shown for those who live in &comparison for comparison (horizontal lines on graph).

Average number of children born by age for the Māori ethnic group

Average number of children born to each sex-at-birth female in the Māori ethnic group, by age, &selection and &comparison, 2023 Census

Life expectancy

This section shows the life expectancy at birth, by sex, for people who live in &selection (columns on graph), compared with &comparison (horizontal lines on graph).

https://www.stats.govt.nz/topics/life-expectancy

This data is calculated using deaths data and the estimated resident population.

This data is calculated using deaths data and the estimated resident population based on sex. These are the median results produced for the New Zealand and subnational period life tables.

The life expectancies are estimates based on death rates during the years stated. If death rates continue to decrease then actual life expectancy will be higher.

#lifetables has more information about life expectancy data.

Life expectancy at birth by sex

Life expectancy at birth, by sex, &selection and &comparison, 2005–2007 to 2022–2024

This section shows the life expectancy at birth, by sex, for people who identify with the Māori ethnic group and live in &selection (columns on graph), compared with those who live in &comparison (horizontal lines on graph).

Extra caution should be taken with comparisons to 2012–2014 period life tables, particularly for the Māori ethnic group due to apparent under-estimation of the Māori ethnic group suggested by revised Māori population estimates. The 2012–2014 period life tables were based on estimated death rates using the published estimated resident population (ERP) at 30 June 2013. Revised Māori population estimates for 2006–2023 do not align with the June 2013 ERP due to an under-estimation of the Māori ethnic group in the June 2013 ERP.

Life expectancy at birth by sex for the Māori ethnic group

Life expectancy at birth of the Māori ethnic group, by sex, &selection and &comparison, 2005–2007 to 2022–2024

Population structure

Population mobility

This section shows a summary of where people lived five years before the 2023 Census for people who live in &selection (bars on graph), compared with &comparison (vertical lines on graph).

Usual residence five years ago is shown as a percentage of the usually resident population in the area.

Usual residence five years ago is rated as high quality. #ur5ya has more information, for example, definitions and data quality.

Usual residence five years ago

Percentage of population by location of usual residence five years ago, &selection and &comparison, 2023 Census

This section shows a summary of where people lived five years before the 2023 Census for people who identify with the Māori ethnic group and live in &selection (bars on graph), compared with those who live in &comparison (vertical lines on graph).

Usual residence five years ago is shown as a percentage of the usually resident Māori ethnic group population in the area.

Usual residence five years ago for the Māori ethnic group

Percentage of Māori ethnic group population by location of usual residence five years ago, &selection and &comparison, 2023 Census

Location

Ethnicity

This section shows six broad ethnic groups for people who live in &selection (columns on graph), compared with &comparison (horizontal lines on graph).

People can identify with more than one ethnic group and will be counted in each group they give as a response. As a result, the total of all categories may be more than 100 percent. 

Ethnicity is rated as high quality. #ethnicity has more information, for example, definitions and data quality.

Ethnic groups (level 1)

Percentage of population that identify with each ethnic group (level 1), &selection and &comparison, 2013–2023 Censuses

This section shows more detailed ethnic groups for people who live in &selection, compared with &comparison.

The term ‘nfd’ stands for not further defined. This is used when no more specific information than the level 1 ethnic group is available.

Ethnic groups (level 2)

Percentage of population that identify with each ethnic group (level 2), &selection and &comparison, 2023 Census

Māori descent

This section shows Māori descent for people who live in &selection (columns on graph), compared with &comparison (horizontal lines on graph).

Māori descent is rated as very high quality. #maoridescent has more information, for example, definitions and data quality.

Percentage of population of Māori descent, &selection and &comparison, 2013–2023 Censuses

Birthplace

This section shows birthplace as a country or broad geographic area for people who live in &selection (bars on graph), compared with &comparison (vertical lines on graph).

Birthplace is shown as a percentage of the total population in an area. The percentage born in New Zealand is not displayed below but is included in calculations. Excluding New Zealand, which is where the majority of the population are born, gives a clearer picture of where the non-New Zealand born population were born.

Birthplace is rated as high quality. #birthplace has more information, for example, definitions and data quality.

Percentage of population by birthplace (excluding New Zealand), &selection and &comparison, 2023 Census

Languages spoken

This section shows the languages spoken by people who live in &selection (bars on graph), compared with &comparison (vertical lines on graph).

People may speak more than one language and will be counted for each language they give as a response. This data shows the top languages spoken in New Zealand, as per the 2023 Census, with English excluded. Excluding English, which is widely spoken, provides a clearer picture of the diverse languages spoken in New Zealand.

Languages spoken is rated as high quality. #language has more information, for example, definitions and data quality.

Percentage of population that speak each language (excluding English), &selection and &comparison, 2023 Census

This section shows the percentage of people who identify with the Māori ethnic group and live in &selection that speak te reo Māori (columns on graph). The same is also shown for people who identify with the Māori ethnic group and live in &comparison for comparison (horizontal lines on graph).

Te reo Māori spoken by the Māori ethnic group

Percentage of Māori ethnic group population that speak te reo Māori, &selection and &comparison, 2013–2023 Censuses

Rainbow / LGBTIQ+ indicator

This section shows a summary of the LGBTIQ+ and not LGBTIQ+ populations in &selection, compared with &comparison.

Rainbow / LGBTIQ+ indicator is rated as poor quality. #rainbow has more information, for example, definitions and data quality.

The rainbow / LGBTIQ+ indicator is derived based on responses to questions on gender, sexual identity, and variations of sex characteristics as well as cisgender and transgender status.

The LGBTIQ+ category is derived where one or more of the following responses have been received:

• if a person has given a response that is coded to homosexual, bisexual, or sexual identity not elsewhere classified

• persons who know they were born with a variation of sex characteristics.

Rainbow / LGBTIQ+ indicator (level 1)

Percentage of population by rainbow / LGBTIQ+ status (level 1), &selection and &comparison, 2023 Census

This section shows a summary of the LGBTIQ+ and not LGBTIQ+ populations for the Māori ethnic group in &selection, compared with &comparison.

Rainbow / LGBTIQ+ indicator (level 1) for the Māori ethnic group

Percentage of Māori ethnic group population by rainbow / LGBTIQ+ status (level 1), &selection and &comparison, 2023 Census

Religious affiliation

This section shows the religious affiliation of people who live in &selection (bars on graph), compared with &comparison (vertical lines on graph).

People may identify with multiple religions and will be counted within each religious affiliation they give as a response. As a result, the total across all categories may be more than 100 percent.

Religious affiliation is rated as high quality. #religion has more information, for example, definitions and data quality.

Percentage of population by religious affiliation, &selection and &comparison, 2023 Census

This section shows the religious affiliation of people who identify with the Māori ethnic group and live in &selection (bars on graph), compared with those who live in &comparison (vertical lines on graph).

Religious affiliation for the Māori ethnic group

Percentage of Māori ethnic group population by religious affiliation, &selection and &comparison, 2023 Census

Ethnicity, culture, and identity

Business demography

This section shows the number of business locations in &selection compared with &comparison (shown in a separate graph and table).

https://www.stats.govt.nz/topics/business/

This data counts business locations belonging to economically significant enterprises.

This data counts business locations belonging to economically significant enterprises; economically significant enterprises are mostly those with GST turnover greater than $30,000 per year.

Business demography data uses rounding to protect confidentiality, and individual figures may not add up to totals.

Number of businesses, &dynamic, at  February 2000–2025

This section shows the percentage of businesses, by industry, in &selection (bars on graph), compared with &comparison (vertical lines on graph).

Businesses by industry

Percentage of businesses, by industry, &selection and &comparison, at February 2025

This section shows the employee count of businesses in &selection, compared with &comparison (shown in a separate graph and table).

Employee count is a headcount of all salary and wage earners for the February reference month.

Employee count is a headcount of all salary and wage earners for the February reference month. Counts of employees for each business have a small amount of 'noise' added or subtracted before they are combined into tables to protect individual businesses' data by at least 10%. For most cells, the individual businesses' noise tends to cancel out so the cell-level noise is relatively small. Where the cells correspond to just a few businesses, there will be relatively higher levels of noise to protect the corresponding businesses' data.

Employee count

Employee count of businesses, &dynamic, at February 2000–2025

Businesses

Work and labour force status

This section shows the work and labour force status for people who live in &selection (columns on graph), compared with &comparison (horizontal lines on graph).

Work and labour force status is rated as moderate quality. #work has more information, for example, definitions and data quality.

The percentage unemployed from census data differs from New Zealand's official unemployment rate reported by the Household Labour Force Survey (HLFS). In addition to different measurement methods and timing, the HLFS unemployment rate is expressed as a percentage of the labour force. The census work and labour force variable is expressed as a percentage of the population aged 15 years and over.

Percentage of population by work and labour force status, &selection and &comparison, 2013–2023 Censuses

This section shows the work and labour force status for people who identify with the Māori ethnic group and live in &selection (columns on graph), compared with those who live in &comparison (horizontal lines on graph).

Place and ethnic group summariesWest Plains-Makarewa