# 1916 New Zealand census

The 1916 New Zealand census was the sixteenth national population census. The day used for the census was Sunday, 15 October 1916. The census of the Dominion of New Zealand revealed a total population of 1,149,225 – an overall increase of 90,981 or 8.59% over the 1911 census figure.

## Enumeration

In 1916 a new departure was made in connection with the enumeration of Māori. The Māori census counted 49,776 (excludes Māori counted in the European census) for a total of 52,997, fewer than 1,900 reside in the South Island. It was decided to enumerate the (South Island) Māori with the enumeration of the European population, the same schedules being used and the work done by the same Enumerators and Sub-Enumerators as for the European population. The North Island Māori census, however, was also taken in October.

### Cost

The census of 1916 witnessed an important innovation in respect of the mode of distribution and collection of the census schedules, resulting in a considerable saving of expense. This was the substitution of the machinery of the Post Office for the old system of special Enumerators.
Not only was the work performed more economically (the cost of collection was approximately £20,600 in 1911 and £17,500 in 1916), but the schedules were in much better condition than at any previous census, the proportion of incomplete entries being infinitesimal, and the necessity for queries being reduced to practically nil. A point in connection with the 1916 census was the increase in the number of Enumerators' districts—ninety-five, as compared with fifty-nine in 1911—and it is probable that the consequential reduction in the average size of the districts made for increased efficiency.

## Summary

The results of the census covered these topics: (Separate Volumes) (published 1920)
* Part I Population (published 1918)
* Part II Ages (published 1918)
* Part III Birthplaces and Length of Residence (published 1918)
* Part IV Religions (published 1918) (20pp)
* Part V Education (published 1918)
* Part VI Infirmity (published 1918)
* Part VII Conjugal Condition (published 1918)
* Part VIII Fertility (published 1919)
* Part IX Occupations and Unemployment (published 1919)
* Part X Race Aliens (published 1919)
* Part XI Dwellings (published 1919)
* Part XII Households (published 1920)
Appendix A Maori Census Appendix B Population of Cook and Other Annexed Pacific Islands* Appendix C Religious Denominations (Places of Worship etc.) and Libraries Appendix D Census of Industrial Manufacture* Appendix E Poultry and Bees

## Population and dwellings

The principal natural divisions in New Zealand are the North, South, and Stewart Islands. These contain nearly the whole population of European descent, the Cook and other annexed islands being inhabited almost solely by Natives. The populations of the various provincial districts are as follows:
| Provincial District | Males | Females | Total |
| Auckland | 155,298 | 153,468 | 308,766 |
| Taranaki | 28,773 | 27,150 | 55,925 |
| Hawke's Bay | 27,194 | 27,073 | 54,267 |
| Wellington | 119,572 | 112,542 | 232,114 |
| Total, North Island | 330,839 | 320,233 | 651,072 |
| Marlborough | 8,506 | 8,102 | 16,608 |
| Nelson | 22,415 | 20,836 | 43,251 |
| Westland | 8,088 | 7,414 | 15,502 |
| Canterbury | 88,085 | 93,784 | 181,869 |
| Otago ||||
| Otago Portion | 63,546 | 67,972 | 131,518 |
| Southland Portion | 30,296 | 29,333 | 59,629 |
| Total, South Island^ | 220,936 | 227,441 | 448,377 |
| Dominion of New Zealand | 551,771 | 547,674 | 1,099,449 |
| ^Includes Stewart Island and Chatham Islands ||||

### Distribution

| Distribution | Males | Females | Total |
| Population of the Dominion$^a$ | 551,775 | 547,674 | 1,099,449 |
| Māori population$^b$ | 25,931 | 23,840 | 49,771 |
| Morioris at Chatham Islands | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Totals, New Zealand | 577,715 | 571,510 | 1,149,225 |
$^a$ European, (Māori living as Europeans) and others. (excluding Māori and residents of Cook and other Pacific islands). $^b$ Includes 3,529 half-castes living as Māoris.
| Population of Cook and other annexed islands$^†$ | 6,553 | 6,244 | 12,797 |
| Total, (excluding Samoa) | 584,261 | 577,761 | 1,162,022 |
| Samoa (Expeditionary Force and New Zealand civilians) | 246 | 25 | 271 |
| Total, Pacific Islands | 584,507 | 577,786 | 1,162,293 |
| Source: ||||
Notes: † Includes 112 soldiers in camp in New Zealand.

## Birthplace

Question 8 on the census form asked the question: (a.) Country where born... (not county, town or subdivision.) If born outside the British Empire or if born at sea, add "P." if a British subject by parentage, add "N". if a British subject by nationalization. The figures show that of the total population of specified birthplace (1,097,841), 1,077,808, or 98.17 per cent., were born on British soil, 1.70 per cent, on foreign soil, and 0.13 per cent, at sea. For the overseas-born census usually resident population:
| Country | Population | Percent (%) |
| New Zealand-born | 794,139 | 72.34 |
| Totals, Overseas-born | 305,310 | 27.66 |
| England | 140,997 | 12.84 |
| Scotland | 51,951 | 4.73 |
| Commonwealth of Australia | 45,585 | 4.15 |
| Ireland | 37,380 | 3.40 |
| Wales | 2,197 | 0.20 |
| Other British possessions | 5,559 | 0.51 |
| Totals, British soil | 1,077,808 | 98.17 |
| Austria-Hungary | 2,365 | 0.22 |
| German Empire | 2,999 | 0.27 |
| Denmark | 2,244 | 0.20 |
| Chinese Empire | 2,041 | 0.19 |
| Other foreign countries | 9,007 | 0.82 |
| Total foreign | 18,656 | 1.70 |
| At sea | 1,377 | 0.13 |
| Not stated | 1,608 | – |
| Total that specified a birthplace | 1,097,841 | 100.0 |
| New Zealand | 1,099,449 | 100.0 |

## Race

The census form asked the question (a.) Country where born... (b.) Race.
| Race | Males | Females | Population | % |
| European | 547,505 | 545,519 | 1,093,024 | 95.11 |
| Māori | 27,446 | 25,551 | 52,997 | 4.61 |
| Others | 2,757 | 447 | 3,204 | 0.28 |
| Chinese | 2,017 | 130 | 2,147 | – |
| Syrians | 267 | 192 | 459 | – |
| Hindus | 167 | 14 | 181 | – |
| Negroes | 79 | 16 | 95 | – |
| Japanese | 55 | 4 | 59 | – |
| New Zealand | 577,715 | 571,510 | 1,149,225 | 100.0 |

### Māori census

| Location | Total population |
| North Island | 47,545 |
| South Island | 1,590 |
| Stewart Island | 4 |
| Chatham Islands ||
| Māoris | 253 |
| Morioris | 5 |
| Māori wives living with European husbands | 379 |
| Totals, New Zealand | 49,776 |
| Source: (excludes Māori living as Europeans.) ||

### Religion

Members of Christian denominations formed 95.71 per cent. of those who made answer to the inquiry at the last census; non-Christian sects were 0.44 per cent.; and those who described themselves as of no religion 0.39 per cent.; whilst "indefinite" religions constituted 1.12 per cent.
| Denomination | 1916 census | 1916 census |
| Denomination | Number | Percentage |
| Christian | 1,048,479 | 95.71% |
| Church of England | 459,021 | 42.90% |
| Presbyterians | 260,659 | 24.36% |
| Methodists | 106,024 | 9.91% |
| Baptists | 20,872 | 1.95% |
| Congregationalists | 8,221 | 0.77% |
| Lutherans | 3,530 | 0.33% |
| Salvation Army | 10,004 | 0.94% |
| Brethren | 9,758 | 0.91% |
| Church of Christ | 9,249 | 0.86% |
| Unitarians | 1,402 | 0.13% |
| Society of Friends | 431 | 0.04% |
| Roman; Catholics and Catholics undefined | 151,605 | 14.17% |
| Other Christians | 7,703 | 0.72% |
| Hebrews | 2,341 | 0.22% |
| Other specified religions | 14,817 | 1.39% |
| No religion | 4,311 | 0.40% |
| Totals, specified religions | 1,069,948 | 100.00% |
| Object to state | 25,577 | – |
| Unspecified | 3,924 | – |
| Grand totals, New Zealand | 1,099,449 | – |