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Statistics New Zealand says by working with the Data Iwi Leaders Group has been able to address the gaps in iwi affiliation data in the 2018 Census.
Its kaihautu Māori, Rhonda Paku, says the estimates are not official census counts, but for most purposes provide a more relevant and up-to-date picture of iwi than continued use of 2013 Census data.
They include information for 32 iwi added to Stats NZ’s iwi classification in 2017.
Professor Tahu Kukutai from the Data Iwi Leaders Group says the 2018 iwi affiliation estimated counts provide a starting point for the ongoing development of datasets made by iwi for iwi.
She says data is a taonga and as iwi reclaim their position as designers – as well as users – of data, iwi, hapū, and whānau will thrive.
To improve response rates for Māori in the 2023 Census, Stats NZ intends to have a larger community engagement team to work with Māori communities and employ more local people to assist with the collection of data at census time.
The estimates show Ngapuhi is still the largest iwi with 165,000 people, followed by Ngāti Porou with 92,00 and Ngāi Tahu with 74,000, while the smallest, Patukirikiri from the Hauraki confederation, had just 60 affiliates.
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