A Regional Profile - Statsarchive.stats.govt.nz/.../population/migration/nz-a-regional-profile/Otago.pdfNew Zealand - A Regional Profile 10 Otago In the nineteenth century, gold, wool

ARegionalProfile

NEW ZEALAND

OTAGO

Published in November 1999 by

Statistics New ZealandTe Tari Tatau

Wellington, New Zealand

Catalogue Number 01.717.IN98ISBN 0-478-20708-5

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PrefaceNew Zealand - A Regional Profile aims to summarise information about all 16 regions in New Zealandinto one comprehensive volume.

What do regions mean to New Zealanders? Essentially they are a place to live, a focus forparochialism on the sports field and a source of local identity. If you asked a Southlander, “Do yousee yourself as being different to a Nelsonian”, they would answer firmly, “Yes”. Defining regionalqualities is, however, rather less definitive. What does it really mean to be a Cantabrian, aNorthlander or a Wellingtonian? How does the region of residence affect the individual in terms ofemployment choices, income, access to health and educational services? This publication exploreshow the history, topography, social, demographic and economic forces in each region have shapedexperiences. While it cannot exactly describe each individual in Northland or Canterbury, thepublication can show the most distinctive characteristics of each region.

The publication has a two-fold purpose: to provide a comprehensive source of information abouteach region in New Zealand; and to analyse each region, comparing differences and similarities,with the aim of celebrating regional diversity in New Zealand. The sixteen chapters examine thehistory, topography, population characteristics and economy of each region. Information is presentedin written, graphic and tabular form.

I would like to acknowledge my appreciation of Dr Rosemary Goodyear, Aaron Green and RochelleMorgan of the Regional and International Statistics Division who contributed to this report, underthe direction of Zane Colville.

Len CookGovernment Statistician

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AcknowledgementThis report was prepared by the Regional and International Statistics Division and published by thePublishing and Community Information Division of Statistics New Zealand.

Further informationFor further information on the statistics in this report, or on other publications or products, contactInformation and Consultancy Services.

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CONTENTSPage

Highlights 9Introduction 9History 10The land and environment 12

Topography 12Soil and climate 12Environment 13Regional features 14

The people 14Population structure 14Migration 15Age structure 17Ethnicity 18Religion 19Education 19Labour market 20Access to services 22Dwellings 23Households and families 23Number of children 24Income and expenditure 25Health 27Crime 28

The economy 30Business 30Minerals 30Energy 31Agriculture 31Horticulture 32Forestry 32Buildings 33Retail trade 34Tourism 34Transport 35

Definitions 37Bibliography 45

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9 New Zealand - A Regional ProfileOtago

Highlights

• Otago is the third-largest region in NewZealand, with a land area of 31,990 squarekilometres.

• Otago was originally a Scottish settlement.

• It is relatively sparsely populated with only185,085 people (usually resident population at5 March 1996), and a population density of 5.8people per square kilometre.

• Dunedin is the main urban centre in the regionwith almost 120,000 residents.

• Otago has the lowest proportion of children inthe country but the highest proportion of youngadults (people aged between 15 and 24).

• Otago has the lowest proportion of M�ori inthe country (6.1 percent). More than nine in10 people claimed European ethnicity.

• Education is very important in the region. Otago established the first university in NewZealand and now has the highest proportion of full-time students. There are approximately20,000 tertiary students in Dunedin.

• The average farm size in Otago is the largest in New Zealand, 656 hectares compared withthe national average of 251 hectares.

IntroductionOtago formed part of a wider area of Te Wai Pounamu (South Island) which has been christenedMurihiku. Below the limits of horticulture, particularly kumara growing, M�ori relied on huntingand gathering, feasting on seals, moa, fish and birds. Because of the harsher conditions, numbers ofM�ori in this area were never large. A succession of iwi invaded the region, conquering andintermarrying with existing populations. European settlement occurred relatively early as sealersand whalers set up small settlements in the region, often intermarrying with the local iwi (Ng�iTahu). M�ori participated in this new industry and adopted European crops. The arrival ofsubstantial numbers of European settlers from the 1840s onwards disrupted this balance and they,rather than Ng�i Tahu or whalers, dominated the new province of Otago.

Otago

10New Zealand - A Regional ProfileOtago

In the nineteenth century, gold, wool and a strong Scottish heritage shaped the development ofOtago. This legacy is evident in the Presbyterian churches and educational buildings of the region’scapital, Dunedin, the gold field trails of central Otago, and the extensive pastoral farming that stilloccurs in the region. Otago, like Canterbury, was also a Wakefield settlement, but it was lessprosperous since the Free Church of Scotland (a Presbyterian offshoot) had little money orresources. The settlement struggled until the gold rushes of the 1860s, when the population ofOtago expanded rapidly. The original founders of Otago were dismayed by the influx of single menand feared that the moral tone of the settlement would be destroyed. Gold caused Otago to prosper,however, and for a brief period in the 1870s and 1880s Dunedin was New Zealand’s pre-eminentcity. A mini-industrial boom occurred and pastoralism opened up the countryside. However, by the1890s, Dunedin had lost its dominance and the region declined in power and importance throughoutthe twentieth century.

Otago now bears its history proudly, partly because a lack of significant growth in the twentiethcentury meant a slower rate of development, allowing the region to preserve many historicbuildings. The Scottish emphasis on education has resulted in the establishment of many fineschools and tertiary institutions, especially the University of Otago. Dunedin City has become aneducational centre and much of the city’s economy relies on the presence of approximately 20,000students who attend either the university, teacher’s college or polytechnic. The rest of the region isfar more rural in character, relying on rural industries and farming for survival. While Dunedin Cityis the region’s capital, the most significant growth in the region has occurred in Queenstown, now atourist mecca. The population of the Queenstown-Lakes District expanded rapidly in the 10 yearsto 1996 and is projected to have one of the fastest growth rates nationally by the year 2021. Tourism,and perhaps the expanding wine industry, will become the region’s new “gold”.

HistoryBy 1100 Southern M�ori had extensively explored the river valleys of Murihiku (southern

New Zealand, including South Canterbury).

1000-1770 M�ori settlers in the region are hunter-gatherers. Seals and moa form an importantpart of their diet but over-hunting causes a decline in numbers around the latefourteenth century. The M�ori population falls sharply as a result. Fish become amajor food staple, as does fern root and small birds. In the fifteenth or sixteenthcenturies Ng�ti Mamoe invades in search of pounamu (greenstone), then in theseventeenth century Ng�i Tahu (originally a hapu of Ng�ti Kahungunu) conquerand intermarry with Ng�ti Mamoe.

1798-1800 American sealers establish sealing gangs on Murihiku.

1817 Otakou M�ori exact utu (revenge) on Captain Kelly’s crew at Whareakeake Beach,killing two men.

1829 The first whaling stations are established along the coast, including importantstations at Moeraki, Waikouaiti, Purakaunui, Otakou and Taieri Mouth.


1835 Influenza and measles affect the southern Ngai Tahu, although it is not known howmany people have died. The M�ori population in Otago is approximately 500 bythe mid-1840s.

1844 The Otakou purchase includes the site of Dunedin. Tuhawaiki, paramount NgaiTahu rangatira, is drowned.

1848 Dunedin founded as a Free Church of Scotland settlement.

1861 Gabriel Read strikes gold at “Gabriel’s Gully”. When he publicises his find the rushto Tuapeka starts. In the 1860s gold makes Otago the most populous and prosperoussettlement in New Zealand. The first Chinese arrive in New Zealand to work thegoldfields in 1866. Sir Julius Vogel moves to Otago. He joins the Otago Witness andlater in the year founds New Zealand’s first daily paper, the Otago Daily Times.

1862 The town of Clyde begins to develop, supplies are brought over the Dunstan Trailfrom Dunedin.

1865 Dunedin becomes a city.

1869 The University of Otago, New Zealand’s first university, is founded.

1871 Otago Girls’ High School, the first girls’ secondary school in the country is opened.

1873 The First Church of Otago, designed by R. A. Lawson, is erected on Bell Hill.

1874 The first woollen mills in New Zealand are established at Mosgiel.

1876 A bridge is built across the Clutha River.

1879 Dunedin becomes the first city outside the United States to have its own tramsystem.

1882 The first shipment of frozen meat sails from Port Chalmers, in the ship Dunedin,opening a new era in New Zealand farming.

1884 The Dunedin Public Art Gallery is founded.

1906 Dr Truby King founds the Plunket Society in Dunedin. In 1909 the first Karitanehospital is built.

1912 The Earnslaw first sails, carrying families, supplies and stock to isolated sheepstations along Lake Wakatipu.


1925 Dunedin hosts the Dunedin and South Seas Exhibition - three million tickets sold.

1989 The Clyde Dam, the largest concrete dam in the country, is completed.

1994 Dunedin City joins with Ng�i Tahu in commemorating the 1844 Otakou purchase.

1996 Queenstown becomes an international airport.

1998 Otago celebrates 150 years of European settlement, and re-enacts the arrival of theJohn Wickliffe and the Phillip Laing.

The land and environment

TopographyOtago is the third-largest region in New Zealand. Its land area consists of 31,990 square kilometres,which is 11.6 percent of New Zealand’s total land mass. The West Coast and Southland borderOtago to the west and south, the Pacific Ocean marks the eastern border and Canterbury providesthe northern-most boundary. The region’s highest mountain is Mt Earnslaw (2,819 metres), and ithas three major lakes, of which Lake Wakatipu (293 square kilometres) is the largest. The Cluthariver is 322 kilometres long and carries the largest volume of water of any river in the country. TheMt Aspiring National Park, an important wilderness, recreational and climbing area, is partlysituated in Otago.

Considerable variety exists in Otago’s topography. The Western Otago landscape has been mouldedby glaciation, inland Otago, although originally flat, has been deeply scarred by wind and watererosion, creating a rugged landscape, while volcanic cones and old lava flows have shaped the landaround Dunedin. Most rock in the Otago landscape consists of the ancient Haast Schist group, andcoastal lands which were once under the ocean, are composed of ancient marine sediments. Theseare often covered with limestone or sandstone formations and, in some areas a type of mudstone,which is very prone to instability.1

Soil and climateLoess soils blanket the river plains, downlands, basins and ranges, which are intersected bynumerous watercourses. On the downlands of North Otago there are deep soils where loess hasmixed with minerals, and these fertile soils are suitable for cropping.2 The most fertile soils in theregion are on the plains of the Taieri and Inchclutha where flooding has deposited rich humus andsilt. Soils in Central Otago are less fertile and vary from arid brown grey earths on ridges, to yellow-grey earths which are of good texture. The high country soils are vulnerable to erosion and humanintervention. 3

1 M.J. Crozier, ‘Slope Instability in Lowland Otago’, in Geoff Kearsley & Blair Fitzharris (eds.), Southern Landscapes: Essays in Honour ofBill Brockie & Ray Hargreaves, Department of Geography, University of Otago, 1990, pp.129-145. C.A.Cotton, ‘Otago’s Physiography’, inB.J.Gernir (ed.), The Face of Otago, Whitcombe & Tombs, Dunedin, 1948, pp.1-17.

2 D.L. Hicks, ‘Small Water Courses in Otago and Southland’, in Southern Landscapes, pp.199-211.3 A.F.Mark, ‘Ecological and Nature Conservation Values: the Case for a Conservation Park’, in Southern Landscapes, pp.233-253.


Otago, like Canterbury, is a region with considerable contrast in climate. The Southern Alps, whichdivide the South Island, affect rainfall distribution in the region. Central Otago is the driest area inNew Zealand, with a semi-arid continental climate, receiving less than 500 millimetres of rain peryear. In contrast, a few kilometres to the west, the mountain ranges receive 2,000 to 4,000millimetres per year. Coastal Otago is considered dry and receives 500 to 1,000 millimetres rainfallper year.

This strong climatic contrast is also apparent in the number of sunshine hours and averagetemperatures. Central Otago receives a higher than average number of sunshine hours with 2,071sunshine hours per annum in Alexandra. Although Central Otago receives greater sunshine, it alsoexperiences more extreme contrasts in temperature. Alexandra has a maximum mid-summer dailyaverage of 230C and a minimum mid-winter daily average of -20C. The lowest temperature everrecorded in New Zealand was -220C at Ophir in Central Otago, on 3 July 1995. Dunedin, incontrast, has a minimum mid-winter daily average of 30C and a maximum mid-summer average of190C. The city receives well below-average sunshine hours with 1,662 sunshine hours per annum.

EnvironmentThe Otago Regional Council is responsible for ensuring that sustainable land practices are employedwithin the region and that animal pests and noxious plants are eradicated where possible. Thecouncil has prepared and implemented a pest monitoring and enforcement programme.

The council is very active in encouraging the community to participate in resolving sustainable landuse issues. The council also investigates a wide range of agricultural and industrial sites annuallyand prepares management plans to improve land care procedures.

Otago is now home to a number of introduced pests including rabbits, hares, possums and rooks aswell as plants such as nasella tussock, gorse, broom and old man’s beard. All of these pests causeconsiderable damage to the environment and cost millions of dollars annually to control. TheOtago Regional Council monitors a number of bio-control sites, has established numerous farmergroups and conducted several field days to promote the pest monitoring and enforcement programme.The recent unauthorised release of the RCD virus has considerably reduced rabbit numbers in theregion.

Some areas of Otago are prone to damage from flooding. A range of remedial work has beenundertaken including the maintenance of river stopbanks, drainage systems and vegetationmanagement designed to alleviate the effects of floods and to provide adequate drainage for lowlying land. An area at particular risk is the Taieri Plain, which is also the location of Dunedin airport.This area has flooded extensively in the past, however the installation of a pump station at LakeAscog and maintenance of the East Taieri area ponding spillway may improve the situation.


Regional featuresTourism is one of the major industries in the Otago Region. The Queenstown-Lakes District is amajor tourist destination in New Zealand and attracts a diverse range of visitors seeking attractivelandscapes, skiing in winter and adventure tourism. The small township of Glenorchy, at the headof Lake Wakatipu, gives access to the Mt Aspiring National Park, including the popular Routeburn,Rees-Dart and Greenstone tramps. Coastal Otago provides the opportunity for wildlife observation,particularly seals, penguins and the Royal albatross. Dunedin City has a number of attractivelypreserved buildings which were built during the golden period after the gold rushes broughtprosperity to the region.

The people

Population structureAlthough Otago had the second-largest population of any South Island region, with 185,085 peoplein March 1996, this was only the seventh-largest population in New Zealand. Population estimatesreleased since the census calculate that on 30 June 1997 the population of Otago reached 188,900.This represents a population growth of 0.2 percent between 1996 and 1997, well below the NewZealand average of 1.3 percent.4 Between 1986 and 1996, the population increased by 3.7 percent,compared with the New Zealand average of 10.9 percent. This reflects the generally lowerpopulation growth in the South Island, although the difference in growth rates between islandsnarrowed between 1991 and 1996. The Otago Region experiences substantially different growthrates at a territorial authority level.

Figure 15.1

Usually Resident Population by Territorial Authority, 1986-1996Percentage Percentage Percentage

Territorial authority 1986 1991 1996 change change change

1986-1991 1991-1996 1986-1996

Waitaki District 22,374 21,888 21,573 -2.2 -1.4 -3.6Central Otago District 16,359 14,967 14.955 -8.5 -0.1 -8.6Queenstown-Lakes District 8,316 9,984 14,286 20.1 43.1 71.8Dunedin City 114,093 114,504 118,143 0.4 3.2 3.6Clutha District 19,545 18,213 18,006 -6.8 -1.1 -7.9

Source: Statistics New Zealand, Census of Population and Dwellings, 1986, 1991, 1996

Population projections estimate that between 1996 and 2021 the Waitaki, Clutha and CentralOtago Districts will lose population, with Waitaki and Central Otago losing approximately 18percent of their population. Dunedin City will experience a modest population increase of 2.9percent, while the Queenstown-Lakes District (with 14,286 residents) is projected to grow by 61.5percent between 30 June 1996 and 30 June 2021.5

4 Source: Statistics New Zealand, Subnational Population Estimates.5 Source: Statistics New Zealand, Subnational Population Projections.


At 5 March 1996 the region was relatively sparsely populated with a population density of 5.8people per square kilometre, well below the New Zealand average of 13.1. Otago was slightly morerural than the average for New Zealand (80.3 percent lived in urban areas compared with 85.4percent nationally). A huge difference emerged throughout the region, however, with the majorityof the Clutha and Central Otago Districts being rural.

Figure 15.2

Rural/Urban Distribution in Otago, 1996

Source: Statistics New Zealand, Census of Population and Dwellings, 1996

Migration6

Otago lost population to the north, mainly to Canterbury, Wellington and Marlborough, but itgained 2,688 people from Southland. For the five-year period ending March 1996 the total net gainby overseas migration was only 747 people. Otago did not experience a large overseas migration gainas most overseas migrants settled in the Auckland or Canterbury Regions.

6 For definitions of internal and overseas migration, refer to glossary.


Figure 15.3

Net Gains and Losses Through Internal Migration, 1991-1996


Between 1991 and 1996, migrants to Otago were largely in the highly mobile 15 to 24 age group,whereas the majority of people leaving Otago were slightly older (25 to 39 age group). These figuresprobably reflect the yearly influx of students to the region, many of whom leave afterwards to gainemployment elsewhere.

Figure15.4

Age Group of People Migrating to Otago, 1991-1996

Origin

Percent

Age group (years)

0-14 15-24 25-39 40-59 60-74 75+ Total

Canterbury 12.4 36.6 29.6 14.7 4.7 2.0 100.0Southland 12.7 39.6 21.6 17.9 6.7 1.5 100.0Wellington 9.9 46.3 30.2 9.9 3.1 0.5 100.0Tasman 13.3 45.7 21.9 13.3 3.8 1.0 100.0Nelson 8.8 56.3 18.1 11.9 4.4 1.3 100.0Marlborough 6.1 47.4 21.1 15.8 4.4 4.4 100.0



Figure 15.5

Age Group of People Migrating from Otago, 1991-1996

Destination

Percent

Age group (years)

0-14 15-24 25-39 40-59 60-74 75+ Total

Canterbury 14.6 27.8 31.0 18.4 5.7 2.5 100.0Southland 16.2 23.0 34.8 16.6 6.0 3.2 100.0Wellington 8.4 33.4 45.0 10.7 1.7 0.8 100.0Tasman 14.6 20.3 33.3 20.3 7.3 4.9 100.0Nelson 12.1 20.9 38.5 19.2 6.0 2.7 100.0Marlborough 14.6 24.1 25.9 23.4 9.5 2.5 100.0


Age structureThe Otago Region has an unusual age structure since it has the smallest proportion of children inNew Zealand, but the highest proportion of 15 to 24-year-olds. Proportions of elderly, althoughhigher than the national average, almost exactly mirrored the South Island pattern. Therefore,although Otago has a lower proportion of children and a higher proportion of elderly than thenational average, its median age, at 33.6 years, was only slightly over the national average of 33.0years.

Figure 15.6

Age Distribution of Otago Residents, 1996


A high proportion of migrants to Otago were in the 15 to 24 age group. This possibly reflects theinfluence of Dunedin since it has a large population of students. On census night in 1996, a fifth ofall people in Dunedin were between the ages of 15 and 24 years of age. The Waitaki District andCentral Otago District had very low proportions of young adults, indicating that people in this agegroup have moved out of the area for education or employment.


Figure 15.7

Age Distribution in Otago by Territorial Authority, 1996Percent

Area Age group (years) Median age

0-14 15-24 25-59 60and over

Waitaki District7 21.3 11.6 45.0 22.1 38.1Central Otago District 21.8 11.3 46.8 20.1 37.7Queenstown-Lakes District 17.7 15.6 53.2 13.5 32.8Dunedin City 18.9 20.7 43.7 16.7 32.3Clutha District 23.6 13.1 47.5 15.9 34.3


EthnicityIn Otago, as in the rest of the South Island, approximately nine out of every 10 people are European.Ethnicity in Otago was similar, although not identical, to the Canterbury Region. The proportion ofM�ori (6.1 percent of people identified with M�ori ethnicity) in Otago is smaller than in any otherregion. Historical factors account for this situation, because M�ori populations were small in pre-European times and introduced European diseases depleted M�ori in Otago in the 1830s and 1840s.Otago also largely missed out on the post-war migration of M�ori since it did not have a largemanufacturing base. However, the M�ori population in Otago is expected to increase by 46 percentduring the next 25 years, to reach a total of 16,600 in 2021. This is slightly higher than the projectednational average of 41 percent for this ethnic group, but lower than the projected increase of 52percent in Canterbury.8 Pacific Islands and other ethnic groups are also under-represented, althoughOtago’s Asian population is closer to the national average (3.0 percent identified with Asianethnicity compared with 5.0 percent nationally).

Figure 15.8

Ethnicity in Otago, 1996


7 Part of the Waitaki District is included in the Canterbury Region, however most of the population is concentrated in Otago.8 Source: Statistics New Zealand, Subnational M�ori Population Projections.


One ethnic group, although small, has contributed to diversity within the region, and made asubstantial impact on the regional economy. Historically, the Chinese have always been a small butsignificant presence since the gold rushes of the 1860s. Many gold miners later became marketgardeners and ran small businesses. At 1.5 percent, the proportion of people identifying withChinese ethnicity in Otago is slightly higher than in any other South Island region, and it had thegreatest proportion of New Zealand-born Chinese in the South Island.

ReligionThe legacy of the original Scottish settlement of Otago was apparent in the high proportion ofPresbyterians in the region, 29.1 percent compared with 13.7 percent nationally at the time of the1996 Census. Only Southland, which was included in the original settlement, had a greaterproportion of Presbyterians (35.3 percent). Conversely, the proportion of Anglicans is much lowerthan the national average (11.9 percent compared with 18.4 percent nationally). This difference iseven more striking when the proportions of Presbyterians in the total Christian population isexamined.

Figure 15.9

Main Christian Denominations,Percent of Total Christians, 1996

ReligionPercent

Otago New Zealand

Anglican 18.3 28.9Catholic 19.0 21.6Presbyterian 44.8 21.5Methodist 3.0 5.6Other Christian 15.0 22.5


EducationThe Scots immigrants, when they arrived in Otago in 1848, had a firm commitment to education.Originally church schools provided education but, with Otago’s increasing wealth in the 1860s, theDunedin settlement established substantial educational institutions. In the 1860s and 1870s theybuilt a boy’s secondary school, followed by a girl’s secondary school, as well as the first university inNew Zealand. Today a significantly higher proportion of the employed population (8.3 percentcompared with 6.9 percent nationally on 5 March 1996) works in education.

The commitment to education is apparent in the region, which had a lower percentage of peoplewith no qualifications (36.4 percent compared with 38.1 percent nationally), and more so whencompared with the whole South Island where 38.9 percent of adults had no qualifications oncensus night in 1996. The percentage of adults with a higher school qualification was almost twicethe national average (9.9 percent compared with 5.6 percent nationally).


Figure 15.10

Selected Highest Educational Qualifications by Territorial Authority, 1996


The presence of the university in Dunedin makes a significant difference to the proportion of peoplewith a higher degree (5.2 percent compared with the New Zealand average of 3.2 percent). In theOtago Region, Dunedin City and the Queenstown-Lakes District has a greater proportion of peoplewith higher qualifications and the lowest proportion of people with no qualifications (25.6 percentin the Queenstown-Lakes District and 33.1 percent in Dunedin City).

Labour marketOtago has a lower labour force participation rate (62.6 percent of the working age population) thanthe national average of 65.4 percent. This situation could possibly be attributed to the number ofyoung adults engaged in study. On 5 March 1996 there were 22,674 people studying in Otago, and16,296 of these were full-time students. A total of 16.3 percent of adults (who specified theirstudying status) were engaged in full or part-time study, which was the highest rate in the country.

Unemployment in Otago was 7.5 percent of the labour force on census night in 1996, which wasvery close to the national average of 7.7 percent. Rates varied considerably within the regionhowever, with Dunedin City having the highest unemployment rate and the lowest labour forceparticipation rate. Unemployment rates for 15 to 19-year-olds and 20 to 24-year-olds were very highin Dunedin City (24.4 percent for the former and 17.5 percent for the latter), contributingsignificantly to the higher unemployment rate in the city, although unemployment in Dunedin Citywas higher across all age groups. In contrast, the Queenstown-Lakes District had an extremely lowunemployment rate, at less than 3 percent, and a labour force participation rate well above thenational average.


Figure 15.11

Labour Force Characteristics within Otago, 1996

Area Unemployment Labour forcerate participation rate

Waitaki District 5.9 60.6Central Otago District 4.3 65.4Queenstown-Lakes District 2.5 76.7Dunedin City 9.5 60.2Clutha District 4.1 68.1Otago 7.5 62.6


The more rural nature of the region is confirmed by employment statistics which show that a higherthan average proportion of people work in the agriculture, forestry and fishing industries (11.4percent compared with 9.8 nationally).

Figure 15.12

Percent of Workforce Employed by Industry, 1996Industry Otago New Zealand

Agriculture, forestry and fishing 11.4 9.8Manufacturing 13.2 15.2Wholesale trade 3.8 6.2Retail trade 13.6 13.1Accommodation cafes and restaurants 7.4 4.5Finance and insurance services 2.5 3.4Property and business services 8.4 10.5Education 8.3 6.9Health and community services 8.6 7.1


Tourism is also of major importance to the regional economy, especially in the Queenstown-LakesDistrict with adventure and alpine tourism and in Dunedin with heritage and eco-tourism. Aconsiderably higher proportion of the population than the national average (7.4 percent comparedwith 4.5 percent nationally) work in the accommodation industry or in cafes and restaurants.

Education is one of the region’s major industries and on census night 1996 greater proportions ofpeople in which Otago worked in education (8.3 percent compared with 6.9 percent nationally).Otago had twice the proportion of higher education lecturers, reflecting the importance of Dunedin’stertiary institutions.

Fewer people in Otago were employed in manufacturing, or in the property and business industries.Manufacturing was more significant in the Clutha and Waitaki Districts.


Figure 15.13

Employment by Selected Industry for Territorial Authorities, 1996


Access to servicesThe health industry has been a major employer in the Otago Region, partly because of the largeproportions of elderly, but also because of the location of the Otago Medical School in Dunedin.This is reflected in the high proportion of medical professionals in the Otago population. Thepresence of the dental school at Otago University may account for the higher than averageproportion of dentists in the population.

Figure 15.14

Access to Professional Services, 1996Ratio of population to one professional Otago New Zealand

Engineers 266 209Surveyors 1,667 2,388General practitioners 894 1,040Other medical professionals 636 883Dentists and dental surgeons 2,203 2,798Pharmacists 1,763 1,939Nurses 114 130Teachers 73 71Barristers and solicitors 611 547



DwellingsAt census night in 1996 most dwellings in Otago (83.7 percent), in common with most dwellings inNew Zealand (81.8 percent), were separate houses, rather than multi-unit dwellings. These figures,and the number of dwellings (over two-thirds in Otago) that were owned rather than rented, reflectthe New Zealand ethos of owning a home and some land. A slightly higher proportion of houses inOtago were owned without a mortgage (34.3 percent compared with 32.3 percent nationally). Thisreflects lower house prices in the region (except for the Queenstown-Lakes District) but possiblyalso the higher proportion of elderly in the population. Dunedin’s mean house price, at $111,891,was lower than national average of $178,966 as at June 1997.9

Households and familiesOtago had the highest proportion of people in multi-person households (7.5 percent compared with5.4 percent nationally). This can probably be explained by the large numbers of students inDunedin City who share a flat with others.

Figure 15.15

Family Type, 1996


9 Source: Quotable Value New Zealand.


Figure 15.16

Family Type and Number of Dependent Children, 1996

Family type and number of dependent children Otago Canterbury New Zealand(percent) (percent) (percent)

One-parent familyOne child 12.1 13.4 13.8Two children 7.3 7.6 8.2Three or more children 3.0 3.2 4.5Total one-parent families 22.3 24.1 26.5

Two-parent familyOne child 25.5 26.6 25.3Two children 32.8 31.5 29.1Three or more children 19.5 17.8 19.1Total two-parent families 77.8 75.9 73.5


Otago, like Canterbury, has a lower number of people per dwelling, 2.69 people compared with 2.83for New Zealand. The smaller proportion of children, and comparably higher proportion of adults,partly accounts for this difference. Otago also has a higher than average proportion of couple-onlyfamilies. Although there were fewer children in Otago, two-parent families had a higher thanaverage proportion of dependent children, and a higher proportion of dependent children thanneighbouring Canterbury.

Number of childrenThe Otago Region has the smallest percentage of children of any region in New Zealand. Historically,however, Otago women have given birth to approximately the average number of children (2.81children per mother). The smaller proportion of children in Otago is probably a consequence of thelarge number of elderly, as the young adult population who come to Otago to study are unlikely tohave children, and many leave the region after studying, to gain employment elsewhere. Vitalstatistics reveal a higher concentration of women giving birth at older ages than the nationalaverage.

Figure 15.17

Age Group of Otago Mothers, 1990 - 1997

Age group (years) Otago New Zealand(percent) (percent)

11-14 0.0 0.115-19 5.7 8.620-24 19.0 25.525-29 34.4 34.430-34 29.9 23.035-39 9.6 7.340-44 1.3 1.1

Source: Statistics New Zealand, Vital Statistics


Income and expenditureAnnual median household incomes in Otago (for the year ended 31 March 1996) were the third-lowest in the South Island, and, at $29,979, were well below the national figure of $34,707. Medianpersonal incomes were also lower ($13,687 compared with $15,603 nationally). There are a numberof factors that could account for this lower than average income.

It seems likely that the large proportion of students and elderly in the adult population would lowerthe median income and result in reduced household expenditure. Certainly Dunedin City, withapproximately 16,000 full-time students, also had the lowest median personal income in the region,$13,099, whereas the Queenstown-Lakes District had the highest personal median income of$19,372. Unemployment figures were also higher in Dunedin and labour force participation rateslower, especially when compared with the Queenstown-Lakes District. The median nationalincome for a person not in employment was $9,111. The high proportion of people engaged in theagriculture, forestry or fishing industries would probably have affected income statistics as well sincethe median annual wage for people engaged in this industry was only $18,648 on 5 March 1996.Median household incomes were considerably higher in the Queenstown-Lakes District as wasaverage household expenditure.

Figure 15.18

Median Household Income, by Territorial Authority, 1996

Source: Statistics New Zealand, 1996 Census of Population and Dwellings

This lower than average income and lower overall cost of living was reflected in lower averageannual household expenditure of $27,918 compared with $33,145 nationally.


Figure 15.19

Average Annual Household Expenditure, 1997Otago New Zealand

Item Number Percent Number Percent($) ($)

Food 5,103 18.3 5,431 16.4Housing group 3,371 12.1 6,719 20.3Household operation(1) 4,356 15.6 4,546 13.7Apparel 1,380 4.9 1,246 3.8Transportation 4,851 17.4 6,033 18.2Other goods group 3,596 12.9 3,814 11.5Other services 5,260 18.8 5,355 16.2Total 27,918 100.0 33,145 100.0

(1) The household operation category covers the cost of running a household, and includessuch items as heating, the purchase of households items (eg furniture) and any non-foodhousehold services

Source: Statistics New Zealand, Regional Household Expenditure Database

People in Otago spend more money proportionately on food and less on housing than the averagefor New Zealand. Although households in the Queenstown-Lakes District spend the most numericallyon food ($5,398 per annum) they spend the least proportionally on food, a reflection of the highcost of housing in the district. Lower house prices in the Otago Region (except in the Queenstown-Lakes District) probably account for reduced expenditure on housing but Otago people also spendthe least of any region on transportation. Otago people have fewer motor cars per household thanthe national average (13.8 percent have none compared with 12.0 percent for New Zealand). Thecontrast is particularly striking when comparing Otago with Canterbury, which has a higher rate ofcar ownership. Households in Dunedin spend less proportionally on transportation (16.6 percent ofaverage household expenditure). The Dunedin urban area is fairly compact and the presence ofsome 20,000 students, most of whom live close to university, teachers’ college or polytech, musthave an impact on these figures.

Figure 15.20

Number of Motor Vehicles Per Household for Otagoand Canterbury



HealthOtago has six hospitals (including Queenstown hospital which is under the jurisdiction of Southland),with the two major hospitals in the region located in Dunedin. At September 1997 Dunedinhospital (a major teaching hospital) had a total of 474 beds, while Wakari had 360 beds.10 Wakarihospital is more specialised and has a geriatric care unit. There were more hospital beds per head ofpopulation than the average for New Zealand (one bed for every 194 people, compared with anaverage for New Zealand of one hospital bed for 242 people). Again this could be a reflection of thelarger proportion of elderly in the region, with their greater need for services. Although there was anabove average number of hospital beds in the Otago Region, waiting lists in the South Island (notincluding Nelson/Marlborough) were the longest in the country, so it is difficult to estimate theaccessibility of health-care.

Hospital discharge data shows that 26,689 people were discharged from hospitals in Otago for theyear ended 30 June 1996, a decrease of 3.3 percent from the previous 12-month period. Thiscompares with a 4.4 percent increase in discharges in the Canterbury Region (not including SouthCanterbury) and a 4.1 percent increase for New Zealand.11 However, the region does have an aboveaverage number of medical practitioners. The Ministry of Health calculates that, as at 1996, therewere 84.0 active general practitioners, per 100,000 population in Otago, above the average of 81.1for New Zealand.

A boy born in Otago could expect to live 74.7 years, a girl 80.4 years (1995 to 1997 figures).Residents of Otago have a life expectancy of 77.6 years, the fourth-highest life expectancy in NewZealand.12 This higher life expectancy is probably related to the higher proportion of Europeans inthe population, who tend to have a greater life expectancy. Two indicators of the health status of theOtago population, smoking rates and infant mortality, are slightly lower than the national average.In 1996, 22.8 percent of adults in Otago were regular smokers, compared with 23.7 percentnationally. In the years 1992 to 1996, infant mortality in Otago was lower, at 6.2 deaths per 1,000live births on average, than the New Zealand figure of 7.0 deaths.13 Rates were on average higherthan for the neighbouring Canterbury Region, but considerably lower than for the SouthlandRegion.

10 Source: Ministry of Health.11 Source: Purchasing for your health 1995/96: A performance report on the third year of the Regional Health Authorities, Ministry of Health,

1995/612 Source: Statistics New Zealand, Regional Life Tables, 1995-97.13 Source: Statistics New Zealand, Vital Statistics.


Figure 15.21

Infant Mortality for Selected Regions (Average 1990-1996)

Source: Statistics New Zealand, Vital Statistics

A number of factors, some of them unknown, contribute to infant death, so it is difficult to assigncauses for the difference between the three southern-most regions.

CrimeOtago, along with most other South Island regions, has less crime per head of population than thenational average. There were 126.9 reported offences per 1,000 people for the year ended June1997, compared with 145.5 for New Zealand.14 When crime statistics rates are analysed, Otagoagain appears distinct from neighbouring Canterbury. There were a higher proportion of drugs-related and anti-social offences than the national average, and a considerably higher proportion ofthese offences than in Canterbury. This could possibly be related to the age structure of thepopulation, especially the high proportion of people in the 15 to 24-year age group and the influenceof Queenstown, which has a largely transient population and a very large number of domestic andoverseas visitors. The area is also a trouble spot over New Year, which may account for a proportionof the offences.

For the year ended June 1997, there were a total of 23,427 reported offences, and 4,644 convictionsin the Otago Region, 3,997 at the Dunedin court and the remaining 647 at Alexandra (CentralOtago District). For the three-year period ending June 1997, total crime in Otago fell, althoughdrugs and anti-social related offences, as well as property-abuse offences, rose slightly.

14 Source: New Zealand Police.


Figure 15.22

Reported Offences for Years to 30 June 1995, 1996, and 1997

Source: New Zealand Police

There is some variability within the region because there was an extremely high rate of offences(especially drug and anti-social offences) in the Queenstown-Lakes District.

Figure 15.23

Selected Offences per 1,000 People for Selected Areas, Year Ending June 1997Offences per 1,000 people

AreaViolence Sexual Drugs and Property Property Administrative Total

anti-social Dishonesty damage abuses offences

Central Otago District 8.1 0.7 22.7 50.4 14.0 12.0 3.5 111.5Clutha District 10.7 1.2 25.3 44.2 13.5 10.2 1.6 106.5Dunedin City 10.3 1.2 18.0 68.4 12.5 8.6 1.5 120.5Queenstown-Lakes District 8.7 2.0 31.4 100.9 15.8 10.9 4.1 173.8Waitaki District 9.3 1.0 23.3 70.2 20.3 17.3 3.4 144.9Otago(1) 10.0 1.2 20.9 68.0 14.0 10.3 2.1 126.6New Zealand 12.8 1.2 17.4 90.8 12.2 8.0 3.0 145.5

(1) Includes figures for Waitaki District, part of which is also included in the Canterbury Region

Source: New Zealand Police


The economy

BusinessOtago, the second-most populous province in the South Island, makes an important contribution tothe New Zealand economy. Ten businesses based in the region were listed among the top 200businesses of 1997 (by annual turnover).15 These businesses showed considerable variety, fromthose producing agricultural or mineral products to food manufacturing. The regional economy isdominated by agriculture, and tourism is also extremely important in the region, especially in theQueenstown-Lakes District.

At June 1997 there were 10,840 businesses in Otago, second only to Canterbury in the South Island(with 28,860) and more than double that of the next largest region, Southland.16 The more ruralnature of the economy is revealed in the slightly higher than average percentage of businessesengaged in agriculture, forestry or fishing (5.9 percent compared with the New Zealand average of4.4 percent). The higher proportion of businesses engaged in health and community services(5.1 percent compared with 4.3 percent nationally) reflects the importance of this industry in theregion. The proportion of businesses engaged in cultural and recreational services was the highest inany region, and the proportion of businesses engaged in providing food and accommodation wasabove the national average. These businesses are both related to the important tourism industry.High technology industries are also developing in Dunedin, particularly in the information technology,biotechnology and engineering fields. These areas are knowledge intensive, require less resourcesand are not location dependant. This is a natural progression of the importance of education andexpertise in the region which is now offering commercial opportunities in the global economy.

Although post-gold rush Dunedin became the centre of manufacturing in New Zealand, today thepercentage of Otago business engaged in this industry is lower than the national average.

MineralsIn the 1860s gold fever led to the rapid expansion of Otago, opening up inland areas and bringingsubstantial wealth to the province. Those heady days are now over, but the legacy of gold continuesin Otago, shaping the central Otago landscape with mineral deposits, stone buildings and rustingmachinery. The first gold exploited in Otago was alluvial, and miners were able to pan “colour” fromrivers, but the only alluvial gold left now tends to be deep and requires capital intensive extractionmethods. Environmental concerns make modern gold mining controversial but recently a largeopen cast mine has been established at Round Hill in the small Otago settlement of Macraes Flat.Production in 1998 is expected to be approximately 110,000 ounces, with an increase to 180,000ounces per annum after the mine is expanded.17

Otago also has the potential for tungsten extraction from scheelite, but currently there is no scheelitemining in the area. Other non-metallic minerals are exploited in the region, such as phosphate andlump silica from South Otago, and limestone for concrete production in North Otago.

15 Source: “1997 Top 200 New Zealand Companies”, Deloitte & Touche Consulting Group, Management, December 1997, pp.68-91.16 Source: Statistics New Zealand, Annual Business Frame Update.17 Christchurch Press, 11 June 1998.


EnergyThe major energy generation in Otago comes from the Clutha River which has the largest volume ofwater in New Zealand. There are two hydro electric generating plants on the river, Roxburgh Dam,which was built in the 1940s, and the Clyde Dam, which was completed in 1989. Clyde is the third-largest station in New Zealand and has a generating capacity of 432 megawatts, while Roxburgh has acapacity of 320 megawatts. There are other minor electricity generating plants in Otago, includingWaipori Falls, which was established by the Dunedin City Council for municipal supply in the 1920s.

The other significant source of energy in Otago is coal. Otago has huge coal reserves, the second-largest in the South Island. It has been calculated that there is a total of 1,154.24 million tonnes ofcoal in the region, of which 331.75 million tonnes has been measured. There are seven coal fields,the largest of which is at Kaitangata in the Clutha District. In 1994 Otago coalfields produced51,402 tonnes of coal, all of the lowest grade, known as lignite.

AgricultureLike Canterbury, Otago is a traditional pastoral area, where large sheep runs were established in thenineteenth century. This historical legacy in reflected in current land use. The average farm size inOtago is the largest in New Zealand, 656 hectares compared with the national average of 251hectares (1996 figures).18 In part this large farm size reflects difficult terrain. Otago is a hilly andrugged area compared with the Canterbury Plains, and the semi-arid climate of Central Otagomeans that only larger farm units of stock are viable. Pastoral farming predominates, with over 92percent of land in Otago described as grazing, arable or fodder land.

Figure 15.24

Land Use by Territorial Authority, Year Ended 30 June 1996Grazing, Percent

Number Percent arable, fodder in grazing, Total PercentArea of of and fallow arable, fodder land of total

farms farms land and fallow (hectares) land(hectares) land

Waitaki 900 22.8 619,409 97.3 636,274 22.3Central Otago 721 18.3 857,178 98.2 873,119 30.5Queenstown-Lakes 233 5.9 475,158 89.2 532,727 18.6Dunedin 771 19.6 274,847 92.5 297,219 10.4Clutha 1,314 33.4 423,134 81.4 519,613 18.2Otago(1) 3,939 100.0 2,649,726 92.7 2,858,952 100.0

(1) Includes figures for Waitaki District, part of which is also included in the Canterbury Region

Source: Statistics New Zealand, Agriculture Production Survey for the year ended 30 June 1996

Otago contains almost a third of the sheep in the South Island and over a fifth of the island’s beefcattle. More than half the farms in Otago (2,695) run sheep, and there are 7,317,039 sheep in theregion. Goat and deer farming are other significant industries.

18 Source: Statistics New Zealand, Agriculture Statistics.


HorticultureAlthough there are extensive market gardens around the town of Oamaru in North Otago, only1,059 square kilometres in total in Otago is dedicated to growing vegetables. Fruit growing is a moresignificant industry with 2,113 square kilometres devoted to fruit production. The relatively smallproportions of land in such intensive farming types contributes to the larger average farm size in theregion although this may change with more intensive horticulture and alternative land uses beingdeveloped as returns from traditional farming decline. Otago is an important fruit growing area,with most fruit in the region grown in the Central Otago District. Central Otago is a major producerof summerfruit, in particular apricots, nectarines and cherries.

Central Otago is also a small but renowned centre for wine growing. In 1997, 14 vineyards in Otagowere members of the New Zealand Wine Institute, with 151 hectares planted in grapes, a significantincrease from the seven hectares planted in 1989. Although small, the vineyards have producedsome excellent wine, gaining particular success with the Pinot Noir grape. The wine instituteestimates that the amount of wine produced in Otago will increase by approximately 70 percent bythe year 2000, with the main grape varieties being Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.19

ForestryForestry is an important and rapidly expanding industry in Otago. The Ministry of Agriculture andForestry estimates that in the Otago/Southland wood processing region the current harvest oftimber will double to over two million cubic metres by 2002. Otago has a higher proportion ofplanted forest than Southland (almost a third more land is planted in forest). The greatestproportion of forests are planted in coastal hilly areas and the wood produced is generally of highquality. Most forestry production is from exotic plantings but there is a small quantity of nativebeech forest set aside for sustainable logging. Due to increasing government restrictions on theharvesting of native timber, the production of native forest in the region (mainly silver beech) hasdeclined from 26,000 cubic metres of roundwood in 1986 to approximately 20,000 cubic metres in1996.20

Figure 15.25

Area Planted in Production Forestry in Otago, 1997

District Area Standing(hectares) volume (000m3)

Waitaki District 9,295 1,265Queenstown Lakes District 636 127Central Otago District 4,134 784Dunedin City 16,993 2,349Clutha District 65,281 12,032Otago(1) 96,339 16,557

(1) Includes figures for Waitaki District, part of which is also included in theCanterbury Region

Source: National Exotic Forest Description, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, 1997

19 Source: New Zealand Vineyard Survey conducted for Winegrowers of New Zealand by HortResearch.20 Source: Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.


Most exotic production in the region (over 80 percent) is radiata pine but in the Queenstown-LakesDistrict, douglas fir predominates, while the Central Otago District contains a significant proportionof other softwoods. The latter types of tree are more suited to the harsher inland climate of theseregions.

Forestry products from Otago are largely exported through the port of Dunedin, which has recentlybeen expanded to accommodate the large volume of logs and wood chips that pass through the portannually. Between 1993 and 1997, log export volumes in Otago remained fairly constant butforestry production (and consequently log exports) is projected to increase further by the year 2002.During this period exports have varied between a high point of 314,000 cubic metres in the year toDecember 1994, and a low point of 272,000 cubic metres in the year to December 1997. Overall,volumes have decreased by 9.3 percent in this five-year period. The value of log exports hasdeclined by $18,255,000 between the December 1993 year and the December 1997 year. Duringthis five-year period the average yearly value of log exports was $32,952,000.

BuildingsHouse sales and building consents have declined in the region. The number of new and alteredbuilding consents in Otago peaked during 1995 and 1996 as economic growth nationally increased,but while there has been a slow but steady national rise in building consents, Otago has sinceexperienced a decline.21 Building consents in March 1998 were at a seven-year low, with 558building consents (both new and altered) issued exactly the same number for the March quarterduring the 1991-1992 recession.

Figure 15.26

Number of New Building Consents (New and Altered), 1990-1997

Source: Statistics New Zealand, Building Consents

21 Source: Statistics New Zealand, Building Consents.


The difference in wealth in the region is also reflected in house prices. The Queenstown-LakesDistrict has the most expensive housing, outside of main urban areas, in New Zealand. The averagehouse price in the district, at $203,299 (six months ended June 1997), was the highest in the SouthIsland, and among the highest in the country. In contrast, the Clutha District had the lowestaverage house prices in New Zealand, with an average price of $63,366 for the six months to June1997.22

Retail tradeEconomic indicators reveal a relative stagnation in Otago’s economy. Retail trade is an importanteconomic indicator, and retail trade in the region fell by 2.3 percent between March 1996 andMarch 1998, the third-greatest decline of any region. In comparison, retail trade nationallyremained fairly stable.

TourismBetween September 1996 and June 1998, Otago averaged 12.0 percent of the total guest nights inNew Zealand.23 Occupancy rates are generally lower than the national average and the region isaffected by seasonality, increasing by 23.1 percent between December 1997 and March 1998compared with the national average of 24.1 percent. In common with the rest of the country,occupancy rates are highest during the holiday season (March quarter).

Figure 15.27

Guest Nights in Dunedin City and Queenstown-Lakes District,September 1996 - June 1998

Source: Statistics New Zealand, Accommodation Survey

22 Source: Quotable Value New Zealand.23 Source: Statistics New Zealand, Accommodation Survey.


Over the December 1996 to December 1997 period, the number of guest nights in the region fell by2.3 percent, compared with an average increase for New Zealand of 1.5 percent. It is possible thatthe decline in Asian tourist numbers has had a more adverse effect on the Otago Region, becausethe Queenstown-Lakes District was a major point on many tour itineraries. Dunedin City has, incontrast, experienced a growth in guest nights as it relies more on independent travellers and thetraditional markets of Europe and the United States.

TransportOtago has a comprehensive road network, a major railway line linking the region with Southlandand Canterbury, as well as a major port, situated in Dunedin. There is also a small historic railwayline to Middlemarch (Central Otago) which runs through the scenic Taieri Gorge. This has recentlybecome a regular tourist excursion. Dunedin airport is also an international airport, and althoughinternational flights are not frequent, they are becoming more common.

There is a total road length in Otago of 10,451 kilometres, which is second only to Canterbury (with15,397 kilometres of road). Otago has one of the lowest proportions of sealed roads nationally(second only to Northland) with less than half of the region’s roads being sealed. This reflects therugged nature of much of inland Otago as well as the large areas of rural land in areas such as theCatlins.24 Over 76 percent of roads in Otago are defined as country roads and 18 percent of roadsare located in Dunedin City. Traffic volume is, however, only the seventh-highest in the country,resulting in Otago’s roads being less busy than in many other parts of the country, especiallyneighbouring Canterbury.25

There were a total of 5,116 new and ex-overseas vehicles registered in Otago in 1997, just 1.9percent of the national total.26 This represents 27.6 new or ex-overseas vehicles registered per 1,000people, which was one of the lowest rates in the country.

Figure 15.28

Injury and Fatal Casualties in Otago, 1980-r1996

Source: Land Transport Safety Authority

24 Source: Roading Statistics, Transfund New Zealand, 30 June 1997.25 Source: Road Safety Atlas, Land Transport Safety Authority, Wellington, 1996.26 Source: New Zealand Post.


In common with other parts of the country, injury casualties as a result of road accidents havedeclined in Otago after reaching a peak in the mid-1980s. In 1996 there were 736 injuries in Otagoand 34 deaths compared with 914 injuries and 39 deaths in 1980, considerably less than the peakperiod in 1985 when 1,072 people were injured on Otago roads. In 1996 Otago had a slightly lowerrate of combined casualties than the national average (4.0 injuries per 1,000 population comparedwith New Zealand’s rate of 4.1 injuries per 1,000 people). This is lower than in the neighbouringregions of the West Coast and Canterbury (5.8 and 4.6 respectively).

37 New Zealand - A Regional ProfileDefinitions

Definitions

AdultPerson aged 15 years and over.

Birth (fertility) rateA measure expressing the number of births in relation to the size of the population from which thesebirths arose.

CensusA type of survey in which all members of a given population provide information at a given time.These units may be people, companies, buildings, local authorities, etc. Statistics New Zealandcarries out a range of censuses at regular intervals, such as the Census of Population and Dwellings,(at five-yearly intervals).

ChildPerson under 15 years of age.

Country roadDefined by the Land Transport Safety Authority as a road with a posted speed limit of 70 km/h ormore.

CoupleTwo persons who usually reside together, and are married or living in a consensual union.

Death (mortality) rateA measure expressing the number of deaths in relation to the size of the population in whichthese deaths occurred.

De facto populationThe population enumerated in terms of its actual place of residence at a given time. Visitors fromoverseas, who are in New Zealand on census night, are included in the de facto population. Thusthe de facto population is different from the usually resident population, which refers to peoplewho usually live in New Zealand.

Density (of population)Average number of persons per square kilometre in a particular locality.

Dependency ratioAn indication of the burden of non-workers on workers. The conventional measure of dependencyis the sum of people aged 0-14 years and 65 years or more as a ratio of the number of people aged 15-64 years. The child dependency ratio is the number of people aged 0-14 years as a ratio of thenumber of people aged 15-64 years. The elderly dependency ratio is the number of people aged 65years or over as a ratio of the number of people aged 15-64 years. The labour force dependency

38New Zealand - A Regional ProfileDefinitions

ratio is the sum of people aged 0-14 years and the number of people not in the labour force as a ratioof the number of people in the labour force. The advantage of the latter is that it takes into accountvariations in the labour force participation of women, and changes in the age at entry and age atretirement from the labour force. The employment dependency ratio is the sum of people aged 0-14 years and people who are not employed (including those not in the labour force and those whoare unemployed) as a ratio of the number of people who are employed. This has the additionaladvantage of taking into account changing levels of unemployment.

Dependent childPerson aged under 18 years who is not employed full-time.

ElderlyPerson aged 65 years and over.

Employment statusA person’s status within the labour force. Including those in full- and part-time employment: paidemployee; self-employed and without employees; employer; and unpaid family worker.

Ethnicity / ethnic responsesThe ethnic group or groups that people identify with or feel they belong to. Thus, ethnicity is self-perceived and people can belong to more than one ethnic group meaning that the total number ofethnic responses for the target population will often exceed the actual number of people. Furthermore,this affects percentages, in that they will often sum to more than 100 percent. An ethnic group isdefined as a social group whose members have the following characteristics:

· share a sense of common origins

· claim a common and distinctive history and destiny

· possess one or more dimensions of collective cultural individuality

· feel a sense of unique collective solidarity.

Life expectancyThe average number of years that a person could expect to live from a given age if a given set of age-specific mortality rates are applied without change for each successive year. Conceptually, it equalsthe number of years of life remaining to all persons reaching a specified age in a life table, divided bythe number of persons reaching that age. The expectation of life is derived from a life table.

FamilyA family consists of two or more people, who are members of the same household, and who compriseeither a couple, or at least one parent role/child relationship, or both.

Full-timePersons working 30 hours or more a week.


Full-time equivalentFull-time equivalents are all full-time employees plus one-half of all part-time employees.

Guest nightsA guest night is equivalent to one guest spending one night at an establishment. For example, amotel with 15 guests spending two nights each would report provision of 30 guest nights ofaccommodation.

HouseholdOne person who usually resides alone, or two or more people who usually reside together and sharefacilities (such as eating facilities, cooking facilities, bathroom and toilet facilities, a living area).

Household operationThe household operation category (for household expenditure) covers the cost of running ahousehold, and includes items such as heating, the purchase of household items (eg furniture) andany non-food household services.

Infant mortality rateThe number of deaths of infants under 1 year of age registered during a year per 1000 live birthsduring the same year. It should be noted that some of the infant deaths in the numerator of theinfant mortality rate occur to infants born in the year prior to that for which the infant death rate iscomputed. Hence, the measure is only an approximation of the true risk of mortality during the yearof birth.

Labour forcePersons aged 15 years and over who:

· regularly work for one or more hours a week for financial gain

· are unpaid working in a family business

· are unemployed and actively seeking either part-time or full-time work.

Labour force participation rateThe percentage of the total population aged 15 years or over who are in the labour force.Institutionalised people and those in the armed forces are sometimes excluded.

MedianThe value which divides a distribution or array so that an equal number of items is on either side ofit. For example, the median age is the specified age where one half of the population is older and onehalf is younger.

MigrantA person moving from one place to another. A return migrant is a person who moves back to theirplace of origin.


MigrationNet overseas migrationThe number of overseas arrivals into a country, less the number of overseas departures from acountry. When there are more arrivals than departures it is known as net immigration, and whenthere are more departures than arrivals it is net emigration.Net internal migrationInternal migration is determined by matching details supplied in the “usual address five years ago”question on the census form against the current usual address. If the two are the same, then theperson is classified as a non-mover. If there are differences, then it is assumed that the person haschanged where they usually live. Internal migration recorded in this way tends to under-estimatethe true magnitude of movements that have taken place. This is because the census only looks attwo points in time, and there is no record of any other movements which may have occurred inbetween. For example, multiple moves by a single person will be missed, as will return migration,moves by people who have subsequently died, been born, or moved overseas since the 1991 Census.A number of groups within the population are excluded from census-based internal migration analysisbecause they have no previous address available. This could be due to a variety of reasons, includingbeing overseas at the time, being born after the 1991 Census, or providing a previous address whichcould not be coded to an area. Overall, around 4 in every 5 New Zealanders were able to be includedin an analysis of internal migration flows between 1991 and 1996.

Natural increaseThe excess of births over deaths. When deaths exceed births, there is what may be called a negativenatural increase or natural decrease.

New ZealandGeographic New Zealand, that is, the North Island, South Island, and adjacent islands. Persons onboard ship in New Zealand ports or territorial waters are included in regional council area, Northand South Island, and New Zealand populations, but not in those of smaller administrative orstatistical units.

Non-private dwellingA building or structure in which a number of generally unrelated people (either individuals orfamilies) live. Includes institutions and group-living quarters: hotels, motels, hospitals, prisons, hostels,motor camps, boarding houses, ships and trains. They usually have common cooking and diningfacilities. Lounge rooms and dormitories can also be shared by the occupants.

Occupancy rate (for accommodation providers)These are calculated by dividing stay unit nights occupied by stay unit nights available (a stay unitis the unit of accommodation charged out to guests). If a motel had six of its ten units occupiedevery night in July, it had 6 x 31 = 186 stay unit nights occupied. Its stay unit nights available(capacity) would have been 10 x 31 = 310. So its occupancy rate would be 60 percent (186 / 310x 100).


OccupationA set of jobs which involve the performance of a common set of tasks. It refers to the job, trade,profession or type of work in which a person is employed for financial reward or as an unpaid workerin a family business.

Part-timePersons working less than 30 hours a week.

People not in the labour forcePeople who were not in the categories employed or unemployed. This category includes people whowere solely engaged in home duties, retired people, pensioners, people in institutions (hospitals,gaols, sanatoriums, etc), trainee teachers, students and children under 15 years.

Permanent dwellingA building or structure that is both fixed in location and of durable construction. This includeshouses, flats, baches, hotels and hospitals, but excludes tents, houseboats and caravans.

Population projectionsEstimates of the future size and other demographic characteristics of a population, based on anassessment of past trends and assumptions about the future course of demographic behaviour (fertility,mortality and net migration).

Private dwellingA building or structure in which one person usually resides alone, or two or more people usuallyreside together and share facilities (such as eating facilities, cooking facilities, bathroom and toiletfacilities, a living area).

RatioA quotient which indicates the relative size of one number to another.

Regional council area (region)The Local Government Amendment Act (No 3) 1988 provides for the constitution of these regions.The geographical boundaries conform as far as practical to the boundaries of one or more watercatchments. Consideration was also given to regional communities of interest, civil defence, naturalresource management, land use planning, port facilities and environmental matters. At 31 March1992, there were fourteen regions covering every territorial authority area in New Zealand exceptfor Chatham Islands District.

At 1 July 1992, the number of regions increased to sixteen following boundary reorganisation in thenorthern South Island. Twelve of these regions are administered by regional councils while theGisborne, Tasman, Nelson and Marlborough Regions are administered by their respective district/city councils. The boundaries of territorial authority areas are generally the same as regional councilarea boundaries, although there are eight instances where territorial boundaries straddle regionalboundaries.


Regional council boundaries extend out to the Coastal Marine Area which is the seabed from theline of mean high water spring tides extending to the territorial (12 mile) limit.

Rural areaAn area not specifically designated as “urban”. This includes towns of fewer than 1,000 populationplus district territory where this is not included in an urban area. Rural areas also include offshoreislands.

Territorial authority areasThe smallest local government entities, created by the local government reorganisation that tookeffect on 1 November 1989. There is a total of 74 territorial authority areas, comprising 15 cities and59 districts.

A city must have a minimum population of 50,000 persons and be predominantly urban in character,while a district serves a combination of rural and urban communities. The boundaries of territorialauthority areas are defined according to “community of interest” considerations to each other andthe ability of the unit to efficiently service its community.

Unemployment rateFor any group, the number of unemployed expressed as a percentage of the labour force (employedplus unemployed) in the same group.Unpaid work. Hours of unpaid work performed outside the household in the 4 weeks prior to the1996 Census.

Urban areaA non-administrative area with urban characteristics and high to moderate concentration ofpopulation. The classification of urban areas was revised for the 1991 Census of Population andDwellings, and comprises a three-part classification consisting of main, secondary and minor urbanareas, differentiated by population size:

(i) Main urban areas - centres with populations of 30,000 or more. There are currently fifteenmain urban areas, eleven in the North Island and four in the South. Auckland, Wellington,Hamilton and Napier-Hastings are further subdivided into zones.

(ii) Secondary urban areas - centres with populations between 10,000 and 29,999. There arecurrently fifteen secondary urban areas including Timaru, formerly a main urban area.

(iii) Minor urban areas - centres with populations of 1,000 or more not already classified asurban (ie not falling within a main or secondary urban area). There are currently ninetynineminor urban areas and together with the above two categories they constitute the urbanpopulation of New Zealand.


Usually resident (de jure) populationThe legal population of a locality. The de jure population at census is obtained by assigning allpersons to their usual place of residence. Overseas residents who are temporarily in New Zealand oncensus night are excluded from the population, while those persons normally resident in an area inNew Zealand but who were enumerated elsewhere in New Zealand on census night are relocated totheir usual address.

Vehicle-kilometreA vehicle-kilometre occurs when one vehicle travels a distance of one kilometre.

VitalsEvents such as births, deaths and marriages which influence the numbers of a population.Working-age population. People aged 15-64 years.

44New Zealand - A Regional ProfileBibliography

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45 New Zealand - A Regional ProfileBibliography

BibliographyAuthor’s surname, Author’s christian name, Title (underlined or italics), Publisher, Place ofpublication, Date of publication

· McKinnon, Malcolm (ed.), New Zealand Historical Atlas, David Bateman Ltd, Auckland,1997.

· McLauchlan, Gordon (ed.), The Illustrated Encyclopedia of New Zealand, David Bateman Ltd,Auckland 1986.

· Road Safety Atlas, Land Transport Safety Authority, Wellington, 1996.

· Wises New Zealand Guide (8th edn), Wises Publications Ltd, Auckland, 1987.

· Statistics New Zealand, New Zealand Yearbooks 1995-1998, GP Publications, Wellington,1995-1998.

· Belich, James, Making Peoples, A History of New Zealanders, Penguin Books (NZ) Ltd, Auckland,1996.

· Sinclair, Keith (ed.), The Oxford Illustrated History of New Zealand, Oxford University Press,Auckland, 1990.

· Oliver WH and Williams BR, The Oxford History of New Zealand, Oxford University Press,Wellington, 1981.

· Binney J, Bassett J, Olssen E, An Illustrated History of New Zealand 1820-1920, Allen & UnwinNew Zealand Ltd in association with the Port Nicholson Press, Wellington, 1990.

· New Zealand’s Forest Growing and Wood Processing Sector, Ministry of Forestry,Wellington,1997.

· Butler, Richard, Nelson in Profile, Nelson City Council, Nelson, 1997.

· Licensed CHE Operated Hospitals and Old People’s Homes in New Zealand, Ministry of Health,Wellington, 1997.

· Reed, The Story of Northland, AH & AW Reed, Wellington, 1956.

· Barry Mitcalfe, Northland New Zealand, Coromandel Press, Coromandel, 1984.

· Draft Conservation Quorum, Gisborne District Council, Gisborne

· Clark, RH, New Zealand from the Road. Landforms of the North Island, Heinemann Reed,Auckland, 1989.

· Regional Trends in Taranaki, Taranaki Regional Council, New Plymouth, March 1998.

· State of the Environment, Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, Napier, 1997.

· Jim McAloon, Nelson, A Regional History, Cape Catley Ltd, Queen Charlotte Sound, 1997.

· Proposed West Coast Regional Policy Statement, West Cost Regional Council, Greymouth, 1996.

· 1998-1999 Annual Plan Funding Policy Long Term Financial Strategy, Southland RegionalCouncil, Invercargill, 1998.

· Holcroft, MH, Old Invercargill, John McIndoe, Dunedin, 1976.

· McNab, Robert, Murihiki and the Southern Islands, William Smith, Invercargill, 1907.

Documents

A Regional Profile - Statsarchive.stats.govt.nz/.../population/migration/nz-a-regional-profile/Otago.pdfNew Zealand - A Regional Profile 10 Otago In the nineteenth century, gold, wool