Profile of NZ Electorates

Last Sunday the Herald on Sunday ran a two-page feature from me profiling New Zealand, using the Electorate Profiles I had blogged about in March.

This wasn't a political feature, but demographic. We analysed around half a dozen of the more interesting , Botany, Clutha-, Tauranga, Epsom, Mangere and Northland, to see what was distinctive in each area.

Ironically I have not seen the final article myself as I missed getting a paper that day, but have had some very nice feedback on it.

One of the things I did in researching it also, was draw up a list of “most” and leasts” for various indicators. For those interested, here it is:

  • Most under 15s – Mangere – 30%
  • Most 15 – 19 year olds – Dunedin North – 14%
  • Most 20 – 29 year olds – Auckland Central – 30%
  • Most 30 – 49 year olds – Ohariu – 35%
  • Most 50 – 64 year olds – Coromandel – 21%
  • Most over 65s – Otaki – 23%
  • Youngest median age – Manurewa – 28 years
  • Oldest median age – Otaki – 44 years 
  • Most residents born overseas – Botany – 49%
  • Most born in New Zealand – Invercargill – 90%
  • Most Buddhists – Botany – 4.6%
  • Most Catholics – Hutt South – 18%
  • Most Christians – Mangere – 71%
  • Most Hindus – Mt Roskill – 12%
  • Most Muslims – Mt Roskill – 7%
  • Least Catholics – – 10%
  • Most Ratana – Northland – 5.4%
  • Most Brethren – Palmerston North – 1.3%
  • Most Jews – Tamaki – 1.4% 
  • Most Married – Selwyn – 56%
  • Most one-person households – Christchurch Central – 32%
  • Most mortgaged – Helensville – 43%
  • Most mortgage free homes – Ilam – 37%
  • Most Home Owners – Selwyn – 78%
  • Most renting – Wellington Central – 44%
  • Most Europeans – – 83%
  • Most Maori – East Coast – 46%
  • Most Pacific Islanders – Mangere – 59%
  • Most Asians – Mt Roskill – 40% 
  • Most family incomes over $100,000 – Epsom – 46%
  • Lowest median family – Northland – $43,500
  • Most home phones – Ilam 96%
  • Most cellphones – Ohariu – 82%
  • Most Internet access – Ohariu – 76% 
  • Most unqualified – Invercargill – 32%
  • Most educated – Wellington Central – 41% degree holding
  • Most unemployed – – 5.6%
  • Most Labourers – Rangitata – 20%
  • Most miners – West Coast-Tasman – 2.1%
  • Most agricultural workers – Taranaki-King Country – 24% 
  • Smallest – Epsom – 23 sq kms
  • Largest – Clutha/Southland – 38,000 sq kms

 Took a long time going through all 63 electorate profiles, but was an interesting job.

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