Rise of the tolerant society

New Zealanders, and Aucklanders in particular, are increasingly comfortable about the rapidly growing ethnic diversity driven by migration in this country, a report has found.

A survey of 15,000 people, supported by Statistics NZ data, shows a rapid population growth fed by a high intake of migrants, especially in Auckland, which emerges as a centre of ethnic diversity.

The report showed that fewer than half of Aucklanders are locally-born people of European descent.

But with this has come more racial harmony, according to the Nielsen Media Research Panorama study of trends over the past decade. The figures apply only to those aged over 10 years.

Aucklanders in particular were eagerly embracing the idea of an ethnically diverse population, the report said.

It also found rising incomes and an improved general wellbeing, with people feeling less anxious and more comfortable about the pace of change in their society.

Every key measure showed the country had become a better place to live and work over the past decade.

The number of people who said they found it difficult to make ends meet had fallen significantly.

Life had improved for Maori, with a narrowing of the gap between Maori and people of European descent in areas such as income and employment opportunities.

A new pride in Maori culture had emerged, reflected in the number of people who had changed their view about their ethnicity and claimed to be of Maori background.

There was also increasing comfort with the pace of change in society and a dramatic rise in the perception of opportunities for women.

People were putting more value on national identity, and becoming more outward-looking and confident about the country's place in the world.

On a cautious note, it warned of the need to monitor the possibility of rising pressures on racial harmony if migration continued at present rates and the outlook for Pacific Island immigrants, who were characterised by low levels of work skills, lower incomes and higher unemployment than that of the total population.

ETHNICITY

An increasingly multicultural society, especially in Auckland, and much of that has occurred in just the past five years. The population aged over 10 years grew strongly in the five years to June 2004, rising by 316,000 people, or 10 per cent.

The vast majority of the increase was due to a rising number of people of Maori and overseas ethnic origins.

Non-Europeans increased by 240,000 people, or 75 per cent of the total increase in population.

Chinese had now overtaken people of Samoan background as the largest ethnic group of overseas origin, their numbers rising by 73 per cent to 102,000.

The rapid changes in the population mix was seen most clearly in Auckland which has been a magnet for new settlers.

The number of Auckland residents increased from 767,0000 in June 1994 to 988,000 in June 2004.

That strong population growth was driven almost entirely by migration.

The number of people stating they were of Maori descent jumped by 37 per cent from 321,000 in June 1999 to 439,000 in June 2004.

INCOME

New migrants from Europe were better off than any other group, with an average household income of $64,500, while people who had lived here for generations had an average income of $61,500.

The figure for people of Maori origin was $53,700, which had increased significantly over the past decade.

For Pacific Islanders, average household income was up 52 per cent to $49,400, although that gain came from a low 1994 base of $32,400.

Maori and Pacific Islanders remained significantly worse off in terms of financial hardship than people of European descent.

JOBS

Many new settlers come with a diverse range of skills, financial resources and family backgrounds.

New migrants from Europe were more likely to be found in a senior position in business or owners of business.

As of June 2004, almost 60 per cent of all people of Chinese origins were students.

People of Indian descent featured in business and professional occupations, with almost about one in 11 in such occupations compared with one in 14 people of European descent.

Pacific Islanders were almost twice as likely to be unemployed or on welfare.

MAORI

The quality of life for those of Maori descent has clearly improved over the past decade.

The number receiving welfare payments dropped from 20 per cent in 1994 to 16 per cent in 2004. The number of technical or skilled workers rose sharply from 32,000 to 53,000.

Those in senior and professional positions almost doubled from 9000 to 16,000 as did the number of Maori who were business owners, up from 8000 to 15,000.

RACE

The report found a significant decrease in concern about racial problems.

The percentage of all people who believed racial problems were getting worse decreased from 65 per cent in 1994 to 60 per cent in 2004.

Auckland residents were significantly less concerned than the rest of the population, despite living in the most ethnically diverse city.

ATTITUDES

People felt better about society than they did a decade earlier.

Those who thought things were moving too fast decreased from 33 per cent of all people in 1994 to 30 per cent in 2004.

The figures showed those aged over 55 years were increasingly more comfortable with change, although they were still more uncomfortable than other groups.

People were more determined to be successful in life. Almost 70 per cent say success is very important, compared with 66 per cent in 1994.

WOMEN

The proportion of people who believed women got a fair go jumped from 47 per cent in 1999 to 60 per cent in 2004.

HEALTH

People have become more concerned with health over the past decade.

The number of people who exercised regularly increased from 54 per cent in 1994 to 60 per cent in 2004. The most active group of exercisers was men aged over 55 years, a sharp rise from 1994.

There was some slippage in the number of people who tried to avoid unhealthy foods, especially among females aged 35 to 54 years.