1878 New Zealand census

National census of New Zealand in 1878 March 2021 March 2021 May 2024 Eighth census of the Colony of New Zealand 1874 1874 New Zealand census yes 1878 03 03 1881 1881 New Zealand census New Zealand 414,412 People of European descent 38.36% provincial district Otago (114,469) Marlborough (7,557) ....The 1878 New Zealand census was the first held in four years. The non-Māori population of New Zealand (including the Chatham Islands) was 414,412.9 February 1880 Results of a Census of the Colony of New Zealand for the night of the 3rd March 1878: Chapter 6. Population — Summary at successive census periods https://www3.stats.govt.nz/historic_publications/1878-census/1878-results-census.html#idchapter_1_5881 Statistics New Zealand Non-Māori population by province Province Population Population increase or decreaseLargest town in province9 February 1880 Results of a Census of the Colony of New Zealand for the night of the 3rd March 1878: Chapter 14. Cities and Towns, 1874 and 1878 https://www3.stats.govt.nz/historic_publications/1878-census/1878-results-census.html#idchapter_1_5557 Statistics New ZealandPopulation of town Auckland 82,661 +22.55%Auckland13,758 Taranaki 9,463 +73.16%New Plymouth2,680 Hawke's Bay 15,015 +62.71%Napier5,415 Wellington 51,069 +71.43%Wellington18,953 Nelson 25,128 +11.39%Nelson6,604 Marlborough 7,557 +22.98%Blenheim1,701 Canterbury 91,922 +56.40%Christchurch13,425 Westland 16,932 +13.94%Hokitika3,202 Otago 114,469 +34.49%Dunedin22,525Chatham Islands196 +51.94%Total 414,412+38.36% Birthplaces of the population 48% of the non-Māori population was born in the United Kingdom, and 42% was born in New Zealand. 73% of the 4,442 Chinese people in New Zealand lived in Otago. There were only 15 Chinese women in New Zealand, and overall there were more men from each country than women. Where born9 February 1880 Results of a Census of the Colony of New Zealand for the night of the 3rd March 1878: Chapter 88. Numbers, Proportions per cent., and Proportions of the Sexes. https://www3.stats.govt.nz/historic_publications/1878-census/1878-results-census.html#idpart_1_442541 Statistics New ZealandNumberPercent (%) of populationBritish possessions:New Zealand174,12642.02Australian colonies16,0913.88England106,49325.7Wales1,7020.41Scotland47,94911.57Ireland43,75810.56British North America1,5820.38Other British possessions1,9720.48Foreign Countries:France and French colonies7370.18Germany4,6491.12Denmark (including Greenland and Iceland)2,2250.54Norway1,2130.29Sweden1,1620.28Other European countries2,2030.53United States of America7140.17China4,4421.07Other countries1,1600.28At Sea:British Subjects1,2480.3Foreign Subjects380.01Unspecified:British names6860.16Foreign names260.01Names not mentioned2360.06Total414,412100 Māori census A census of Māori was also conducted in 1878. Officers in native district were asked to collect information about Māori in their areas on a prescribed form. Although people in some areas resisted attempts to have their details recorded, the Registrar-General believed that overall, the Māori census was more reliable than the preceding one in 1874.1878 Census of the Maori Population, 1878 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/AJHR1878-I.2.2.2.3 Appendices to the Journals of the House of Representatives Session 1, G2 1–26 Papers Past Results showed a decline in the Māori population. Officials put this down to "love of drink, bad food, bad clothing, and bad houses, neglect of infants, prostitution of women when very young, dirt, and generally low social habits".9 February 1880 Results of a Census of the Colony of New Zealand for the night of the 3rd March 1878: Part XI—Native Census https://www3.stats.govt.nz/historic_publications/1878-census/1878-results-census.html#idsect1_1_5058 Statistics New Zealand Epidemics had killed numbers of Māori in the previous few years. At Mongonui, there were 328 fewer people than at the previous census in May 1874, "attributable to the ravages of typhoid fever of a very fatal character, which visited the northern parts of the district during the end of 1874 and the early part of 1875. Natives entirely without medical aid soon succumb to epidemics, even of a far milder nature than typhoid fever. The fever was followed by measles, which also added considerably to the mortality amongst them". At Hokianga, the census official reported: "Since 1874, when the last census was taken, this district has been visited by two epidemics — viz., measles in 1875, and whooping-cough during the past and present years —both of which have carried off a large number of infants, the former also being in a great number of cases fatal to the delicate youth of both sexes. Diseases of the chest, scrofulous sores, and low fever are also very prevalent, and have been the cause of many deaths", and at Pokeno, "whooping-cough and measles have caused many deaths amongst the Native children, many of whom would not have died if proper care had been taken". In the Bay of Islands district, Edward Williams reported:No virulent disease or epidemic has prevailed to account for this decrease, nor are the Natives generally an unhealthy race of people; but their want of cleanliness, their careless mode of living, and reckless exposure of themselves to all weathers, are causes which, combined, render them an easy prey to disease, and when attacked they at once give up in despair. The only hope for the Native race is their being induced to adopt European habits and customs; to cultivate cleanliness, a better attention to clothing and diet, and providing for themselves and their children some more comfortable shelter from the elements than the miserable hovels which they now call houses, and in which, with but few exceptions, they are content to huddle together in the greatest state of discomfort.In Pokeno, the census official thought that some illness was due to changes in Māori lifestyle and clothing: "Formerly they wore little or no clothes, and were from infancy inured to the weather; [...] Since taking to wear blankets and other warm clothing, they appear to have become more susceptible of cold; no doubt on account of the irregular way they clothe themselves, sometimes having sufficient, and at others having scarcely any". Population figures were also affected by the mobility of the people. At Hokianga, the official recorded that a lot of young men and their families had left the district to go and work in the kauri forests being felled in Kaipara and Whangaroa, while another group had returned to Hokianga after many years living elsewhere. In the Chatham Islands there were said to be 53 Māori, 49 Moriori and 18 "half-castes".9 February 1880 Results of a Census of the Colony of New Zealand for the night of the 3rd March 1878: Maori and Moriori Population of the Chatham Islands https://www3.stats.govt.nz/historic_publications/1878-census/1878-results-census.html#idsect1_1_657424 Statistics New Zealand North Island: Principal TribesTotalArawa3,157Muaupoko109Ngatiporou4,373Ngatikahungunu5,172Ngaiterangi974Ngapuhi5,667Ngatimaniapoto1,390Ngatimaru1,598Ngatiawa, W.C.1,376Ngatiawa, E.C.781Ngatiraukawa1,638Ngatiruanui1,078Ngatiwhatua753Rangitane129Rariwa2,270Taranaki938Urewera684Waikato4,959Whanau-a-Apanui820Whanganui2,756Whakatohea524Of various Tribes, at Auckland and Hauraki169Total41,315 South Island"The Natives resident in the South Island cannot well be classified in tribes, the information afforded by the Maori Census returns not being sufficiently explicit."TotalNelson259Westland82Canterbury534Otago779Ruapuke Island27Stewart Island128Total South Island2,160Chatham Islands120 References Category:Censuses in New Zealand Census New Zealand Category:March 1878 in Oceania