Current State of Play

Current state of play

Māori have lived in the Wellington Region since the time of Māui, Kupe, and Whātonga – and about 60,000 live in the Region today – constituting 12 per cent of the Region’s population.

The Māori population is very young (58% under 30 years of age compared to 38% of non – Māori) with the large Māori proportion of under 30 year olds projected to rise over the next 20 years.

Wellington has a high proportion of highly skilled jobs, when compared to the rest of New Zealand:

Professionals account for 30.1% of jobs

Compared to

23.8% nationally and just 21% of Māori in the Wellington region

Professionals account for

30.1%

of jobs compared

23.8%

nationally, and just

21%

of Māori in the Wellington region.

45.5%

of jobs are knowledge intensive, compared to

31.6%

nationally

40.4%

of jobs are highly skilled, compared to

33.3%

nationally

This is reflected in the high level of qualifications held by people living in the Wellington Region – with 28% of non – Māori holding a Bachelor degree or higher compared to just 14% of Māori (higher than the national Māori rate of 11%, and concentrated in Wellington City).

The young age of Māori in the region, coupled with the low skill levels, presents a challenge and an opportunity to lift the level of educational attainment amongst Māori in the Region so they can actively participate in the large number of highly skilled jobs available in the region.

28%

of Māori in the region own their home

compared to

57%

of non-Māori 

Mean income for Māori was 

$24,100

compared to

$32,000

for all residents in the region

 These two statistics combine to provide a challenging situation for economic prosperity amongst Māori in the Wellington Region.

Just 10% of Māori in the region are self employed

compared to

of non-māori

Just 16% of Māori in the region affiliate to the six mana whenua iwi and 33 marae in the region

Four of the six iwi have settled with collective assets of $300 million – mostly invested in property.