Future NZ: Traditional concepts of family changing

Traditional concepts of family are changing. "Married with children" was long the paradigm: but the past decades have seen this erode, to be replaced by more fluid and inclusive concepts of family.

In the last 30 years New Zealand has grown from 3.2 million (1983) to 4.2 million in 2013, and as our numbers have increased, so has our familial diversity.

Statistics NZ has undertaken projections on family life between now and 2030.

One prediction is that couples without children will overtake couples with two children as the most common household group. The number of people living alone is also set to increase; 602,000 by the 2030s.

Many of those will be older people with grown families, who have lost a partner.

But both single and partnered older people will be more engaged with the care of the family over the next 30 years.

An OECD study entitled "The Future of Families to 2030" says current baby boomers are the new "young old" who will continue to be active and take care of younger family members, while their children work.

The same study states that increased employer demands for flexible/casual workers will see the development of 24/7 childcare centres.

The recent Marriage Equality Act, and proposed changes to adoption laws, will also change the face of the family. Married same-sex couples are now legally able to adopt, and this is likely to lead to an increasing number of children being raised by same sex parents.

Proposed changes to adoption laws will allow people to be considered for adoption regardless of their sexuality, age, relationship status or gender. This will mean that single, older and unmarried parents of all sexual identities could create families with adopted children.

* All NZ figures from Statistics NZ.