Korean New Zealanders
Total population | ||
---|---|---|
35,664 (2018)
30,975 (born in Republic of Korea)
Canterbury 3,705 | | |
Bay of Plenty | 1,557 | |
Waikato | 1,548 | |
Wellington | 1,299 | |
Otago | 792 | |
Languages | ||
Korean, English[2] | ||
Religion | ||
57.0% Christianity 37.4% No religion 2.2% Buddhism[3] | ||
Related ethnic groups | ||
Overseas Koreans |
Korean New Zealanders (
Migration history
The Korean population in New Zealand has been affected by New Zealand's immigration policies. Until a policy change in 1987, preference was given to English-speaking migrants, especially those from Commonwealth of Nations countries. In 1991, a new policy took effect in which potential migrants were ranked according to a points system based on factors such as education, occupation, and wealth. This made it far easier for people from Korea and other Asian countries to migrate to New Zealand, dramatically increasing the number of Korean New Zealanders.[5]
In 1986, there were only 426 Koreans in New Zealand; that had doubled to 903 by 1991, and their population growth accelerated throughout the first half of the 1990s. There were roughly 3,000 people of Korean descent in New Zealand in 1992, according to unofficial estimates, and by the time of the 1996 Census, their population had quadrupled to 12,657 individuals, making them the fastest-growing population group. Growth slowed after that, with only a further 50% increase in the Korean population by 2001.[6][7] Thus, the majority of Korean New Zealanders living in New Zealand in the early 21st century are South Korean-born naturalised citizens or permanent residents.
Demography
There were 35,664 people identifying as being part of the Korean ethnic group at the
There were 18,933 females and 16,731 males, giving a sex ratio of 0.884 males per female. The median age was 33.2 years (compared with 37.4 years for New Zealand as a whole), with 6,297 people (17.7%) were aged under 15 years, 9,711 (27.2%) were 15 to 29, 17,709 (49.7%) were 30 to 64, and 1,947 (5.5%) were 65 or older.[9][10]
In terms of population distribution, 70.2% of Korean New Zealanders lived in the Auckland region, 15.8% lived in the North Island outside the Auckland region, and 14.0% lived in the South Island. The Upper Harbour local board area of Auckland had the highest concentration of Korean people at 6.9%, followed by the Devonport-Takapuna local board area (5.1%) and the Kaipātiki local board area (3.6%). Christchurch City had the highest concentration of Korean people outside of Auckland at 0.9%. Seven districts recorded no Korean people in their respective areas: Great Barrier Island, Ōtorohanga District, Ōpōtiki District, Central Hawke's Bay District, Carterton District, South Wairarapa District, and the Chatham Islands.[11]
The proportion of Korean New Zealanders born overseas was 85.3%, compared with 27.1% for all ethnicities. Nearly three-quarters (73.9%) of those born in New Zealand were aged under 30.[10]
The 2018 census recorded 76.3% of Korean New Zealanders were able to speak English conversationally, compared to 95.4% for New Zealand as a whole.[10]
Women outnumbered men in every age group besides 15 and under; the imbalance was most severe in the 25-39 age group, with only 71 men for every 100 women. This gender gap is mainly the result of the so-called
Education and language issues
The desire to offer children a lower-pressure educational experience in an English-speaking country, as well as a cleaner environment, is a major motivation for Korean migration to New Zealand.
Korean New Zealanders maintain close contact with their homeland through return trips or with technologies such as phones and emails; one 1998 survey showed that 61% of overseas trips undertaken by Korean New Zealanders had South Korea as their destination. Australia and Japan were the next most popular destinations.
Religion
70% of Koreans in New Zealand identify as Christians, while roughly another 20% claim to follow no religion. Buddhists number only about 5%.
Notable people
- Alex Kam, figure skater[19]
- Lydia Ko, youngest-ever winner of an LPGA Tour event, Youngest women's No.1 golfer.[20]
- Melissa Lee, New Zealand's first MP of Korean origin[23]
- Roseanne Park, New Zealand born K–Pop idol, member of South Korean girl group Blackpink
- Microdot, South Korean–New Zealand rapper
- Bizzy, New Zealand–Korean rapper and producer
- Beenzino, South Korean rapper
See also
References
- ^ a b "2018 Census totals by topic – national highlights | Stats NZ". Archived from the original on 23 September 2019. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
- ^ a b Park, Seon-ho (2003), "Language Choice Patterns among Bilingual Migrant Students", Korean Journal of English Language and Linguistics, 3 (1): 15–36, retrieved 21 February 2008
- ^ "2018 Census ethnic group summaries | Stats NZ".
- ^ Tan, Lincoln (24 June 2008), "It's hard to be a Kowi - but fun too", New Zealand Herald, retrieved 22 September 2008
- ISBN 978-0-478-18451-8
- ^ ISBN 978-0-88132-358-0. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
- ^ a b "Ethnic Groups: Highlights", Census 96, Statistics New Zealand, 1996, retrieved 21 February 2008
- ^ "New Zealand's population reflects growing diversity | Stats NZ". www.stats.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
- ^ "Ethnic group (detailed total response - level 3) by age and sex, for the census usually resident population count, 2006, 2013, and 2018 Censuses (RC, TA, SA2, DHB)". nzdotstat.stats.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
- ^ a b c "2018 Census ethnic group summaries | Stats NZ". www.stats.govt.nz. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ "Ethnic group (detailed total response - level 3) by age and sex, for the census usually resident population count, 2006, 2013, and 2018 Censuses (RC, TA, SA2, DHB)". nzdotstat.stats.govt.nz. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
- ^ a b c Ho, Elsie; Au, Sybil; Bedford, Charlotte; Cooper, Jenine (November 2002), Mental Health Issues for Asians in New Zealand: A Literature Review (PDF), Migration Research Group, Department of Geography, University of Waikato, archived from the original (PDF) on 28 December 2006, retrieved 17 February 2008
- ^ Chang, Suzana; Morris, Carolyn; Vokes, Richard (October 2006), Korean migrant families in Christchurch: Expectations and experiences (PDF), Families Commission, Government of New Zealand, archived from the original (PDF) on 14 October 2008, retrieved 21 February 2008
- ^ Park, Seon-ho (September 2002), "Bilingualism among Korean Students as Recent Migrants", Foreign Languages Education, 9 (3), Hanguk Oegukeo Gyoyuk Hakhoe: 23–49, retrieved 21 February 2008
- S2CID 155001441
- ISBN 978-1-86940-384-3
- ^ Engelbracht, Kirsten (12 March 2007), "Prayer movement spreads here from Korea", Challenge Weekly, 65 (8), New Zealand, retrieved 21 February 2008
- ^ Engelbracht, Kirsten (6 November 2006), "Korean passion is prayer for NZ revival", Challenge Weekly, 64 (43), New Zealand, retrieved 21 February 2008
- ^ "Alex Kam - Player Profile - Figure Skater". EuroSport. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
- ^ "Lydia Ko, 15, wins in Canada". ESPN.com. 26 August 2012. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
- ^ "Difficult decisions lay ahead for US Amateur champ Lee - Golf", ESPN, 27 August 2008, retrieved 14 March 2009
- ^ "Champ welcomed into Kiwi club", The New Zealand Herald, 3 September 2008, retrieved 14 March 2009
- ^ "It isn't easy being a Kiwi - Korean MP", National Business Review, 9 December 2008, archived from the original on 2 August 2009, retrieved 10 December 2008
Further reading
- Collins, Francis Leo (2006), Learning to Cross Borders: Everyday Urban Encounters between South Korea and New Zealand (Thesis), Ph.D. thesis, University of Auckland, hdl:2292/2252
- Gu, Bon-gyu (February 1997), 이민을 통한 한국 중산층의 지위 재생산 전략: 뉴질랜드 크라이스트쳐치시의 한국인 이민자들의 사례를 중심으로 (Strategies for gaining middle-class status through migration: Focused on the case of Korean migrants in Christchurch, New Zealand) (PDF), M.A. thesis, Seoul: Hanyang University, archived from the original (PDF) on 25 March 2006
- Gim, Yeong-seong (May 1994), "뉴질랜드의 한국인 (New Zealand's Koreans)", Haeoe Dongpo (5): 18–25
- Park, Shee-Jeong (2007), Political participation of 'Asian' New Zealanders: a case study of ethnic Chinese and Korean New Zealanders (Thesis), Ph.D. thesis, University of Auckland, hdl:2292/393