| Sixteenth census of the Dominion of New Zealand | |
| Country: | New Zealand |
| Population: | 1,149,225[1] 1,162,022[2] 1,162,293[3] |
| Percent Change: | 8.59% |
| Region Type: | provincial district |
| Most Populous: | Auckland (308,766) |
| Least Populous: | Westland (15,502) |
| Notes: | .... |
| Previous Census: | 1911 New Zealand census |
| Previous Year: | 1911 |
| Next Census: | 1921 New Zealand census |
| Next Year: | 1921 |
| Authority: | Statistics New Zealand |
| Website: | (1916) |
The 1916 New Zealand census was the sixteenth national population census. The day used for the census was Sunday, 15 October 1916.[4] 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.[5] [6] [7]
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.[8] [9] 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.
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.
The results of the census covered these topics: (Separate Volumes) (published 1920)[10]
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
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:[11]
| Males | Females | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 155,298 | 153,468 | 308,766 | |||
| 28,773 | 27,150 | 55,925 | |||
| 27,194 | 27,073 | 54,267 | |||
| 119,572 | 112,542 | 232,114 | |||
| align=Center | 330,839 | 320,233 | 651,072 | ||
| 8,506 | 8,102 | 16,608 | |||
| 22,415 | 20,836 | 43,251 | |||
| 8,088 | 7,414 | 15,502 | |||
| 88,085 | 93,784 | 181,869 | |||
| Otago Portion | 63,546 | 67,972 | 131,518 | ||
| 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 | Males | Females | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population of the Dominion | 551,775 | 547,674 | 1,099,449 | |
| Māori population | 25,931 | 23,840 | 49,771 | |
| 2 | 3 | 5 | ||
| Totals, New Zealand | 577,715 | 571,510 | 1,149,225 |
| 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:[12] [13] [14] | ||||
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.[15] 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.[16] 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 | |
| 140,997 | 12.84 | ||
| 51,951 | 4.73 | ||
| 45,585 | 4.15 | ||
| Ireland | 37,380 | 3.40 | |
| 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 |
The census form asked the question (a.) Country where born... (b.) Race.[17] [18] [19] [20]
| Race | Males | Females | Population | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 547,505 | 545,519 | 1,093,024 | 95.11 | |
| 27,446 | 25,551 | 52,997 | 4.61 | |
| Others | 2,757 | 447 | 3,204 | 0.28 |
| 2,017 | 130 | 2,147 | – | |
| 267 | 192 | 459 | – | |
| Hindus | 167 | 14 | 181 | – |
| Negroes | 79 | 16 | 95 | – |
| 55 | 4 | 59 | – | |
| New Zealand | 577,715 | 571,510 | 1,149,225 | 100.0 |
| Location | Total population | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 47,545 | |||||
| 1,590 | |||||
| 4 | |||||
| Māoris | 253 | ||||
| Morioris | 5 | ||||
| Māori wives living with European husbands | 379 | ||||
| Totals, New Zealand | 49,776 | ||||
| Source: (excludes Māori living as Europeans.)[21] | |||||
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.
| 1916 census | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Percentage | ||
| Christian | 1,048,479 | 95.71% | |
| 459,021 | 42.90% | ||
| 260,659 | 24.36% | ||
| 106,024 | 9.91% | ||
| 20,872 | 1.95% | ||
| 8,221 | 0.77% | ||
| 3,530 | 0.33% | ||
| 10,004 | 0.94% | ||
| 9,758 | 0.91% | ||
| 9,249 | 0.86% | ||
| 1,402 | 0.13% | ||
| 431 | 0.04% | ||
| 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 | – | |