Most N.Z. migrants British

Press, 30 June 1983, Page 8

Most N.Z. migrants British

PA Wellington Britons still make up 52 per cent of New Zealand’s resident immigrant population putting them far ahead of any other ethnic group, according to 1981 census figures issued by the Statistics Department.

English people alone totalled 173,181 and accounted for more than a third of overseas-born residents, with the biggest in-

flux of 36,000 being between 1972 and 1976.

A total of 79,890 English immigrants arrived between five and 20 years ago and more than 80,000 came before that. Between 1976 and 1981 13,023 people emigrated from England. The 39,138 Scots who had settled in New Zealand by 1981 were just edged out by Australians who totalled 43,809 or just over 9 per cent of overseas-born resi-

dents. Another 7200 settlers had come from Northern Ireland and 6207 from Wales.

The biggest group after Britons and Australians were Samoans — 24,141 or 5 per cent of immigrants. They were followed by 21,204 Dutch making up more than 4 per cent. Over all, 15 per cent of New Zealand’s total population of more than 3 million

were born overseas. Other national groups include: Irish 6945, Fijians 6372, Americans 6102, Indians 6018, Tongans 5232, Niueans 5091, Canadians 5505, Chinese, including Taiwan 4269, South Africans 3996, Malaysians 3330, Germans 3360, and Yugoslavs 3054. About 15 per cent of overseas-born residents come from Commonwealth countries.