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The New Zealand small-area index of relative socio-economic deprivation (NZDep) is a national index derived from census data. To date, it has been created from four censuses: 1991, 1996, 2001 [...], Objectives: To outline the development and uses of the census-based New Zealand small-area index of relative socio-economic deprivation, NZDep. Methods: NZDep has been created from four 5-yearly censuses using theory developed from international deprivation research, a standard statistical procedure (principal component analysis) and both construct and criterion validation. Results: The latest index was based on nine socio-economic deprivation variables available for just over 4 million people. It was calculated from a basis of 24,000 small areas containing a median of approximately 90 people. The deprivation index has a value from 1 (low) to 10 (high). It is mapped to standard administrative areas and is available free of charge. The index is easy to visualize, and deprivation maps are widely used. The index is used in many applications in research and social epidemiology, and routinely by the country's Ministry of Health, both to explore health variations across the country and to allocate central government funds to local health care providers. Geographers in local government were quick to recognize the index as a good tool for visualizing the diversity and neediness of local communities, and hence as a tool for town and service planning. Conclusion: The national NZDep index of small-area deprivation has been used widely in research on mortality, morbidity and determinants of ill health, and in needs assessment, resource allocation and advocacy. Key words: Socio-economic status; New Zealand; resource allocation; inequalities

This paper considers the implications for personal income tax and Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenues of population ageing in New Zealand. It considers 'pure' ageing effects; that is, population size is held constant but its age distribution changes over the next 40 years. With age-earnings profiles having a peak in the 45-54 age range, and the expected average age of the population over the next 40 years transiting this age range, younger individuals with increasing incomes are expected to approximately counteract the declining incomes of older individuals. However, ageing is expected to increase the dependence of income tax and GST revenues on pension choices. Without changes in New Zealand Superannuation (NZS), its cost is expected approximately to double over the next 40 years, with most of this occurring over the next 20 years. Keywords: population ageing; taxation; income tax; GST; pensions, 1. Introduction The New Zealand population, like that of all industrialised countries, is expected to age significantly over the next 50 years, accompanied by an 'ageing of the aged', whereby [...]

Aims: To report findings on employment, duration of residence and mental health from a longitudinal study of 107 skilled immigrants to New Zealand from the People's Republic of China, India and South Africa. Methods: Demographic and employment data were collected by face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire that included (as the mental health instrument) the General Health Questionnaire 12 (GHQ-12). The initial interview took place after the immigrants had been resident in New Zealand for an average of five months. Four subsequent interviews were conducted annually (1999-2002) on or about the anniversary of the first interview. Results and Conclusion: Rather than an initial euphoric period followed by a mental health crisis, the results indicated poor mental health status in the first two years irrespective of employment status. Thereafter, mental health slightly improved as did employment rates. A surprising result was that although the South Africans had the highest employment rate, there were neither substantial mental health differences among the three groups nor was there a significant improvement during the course of the longitudinal study. Key words: duration of residence, employment, immigrants, mental health, New Zealand

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to provide a descriptive profile of the personal characteristics and socio-economic circumstances of a cohort of young parents (N = 155) who had [...]

During the late nineteenth century reserve lines and boundaries were sharply drawn in Canada and New Zealand, and, as a consequence, the choice to marry 'out' had very real material implications for aboriginal women. This article examines the 'reserve experience' of indigenous women in Canada and New Zealand, focusing on the native reserve as a significant site of interracial contact. Native reserves were designed to be distinct settlements, but intermarriage undermined the pretense of separate living spaces that reserves were designed to generate. Intermarriage, and the spatial relocation that followed, are significant components of the reserve experience for indigenous women over the period 1970 to 1900. Understanding of the reserve experience requires reorientation to account for spatial movement and migration, viewing the reserve not just as a bounded space, but also as a site where border crossings and resistances took place and where interracial relationships flourished.

Background: New Zealand has recently experienced a massive and rapid influx of Asian migrants. The Asian population has doubled in 10 years and is now the third-largest ethnic group. Materials: Databases reviewed include Medline, NZ government reports and NZ media releases. Discussion: Despite the significant growth in the Asian population, most of whom are in a vulnerable age group for mental morbidity and are exposed to adverse experiences, accurate and systematically obtained information on the mental health of Asians is lacking. Conclusion: This paper argues for a need to conduct a well-designed epidemiological study on the mental health needs of Asians in New Zealand. Recommendations on how to pursue this epidemiological study are provided.

Demographic associations with pathological gambling are usually based on findings with population samples which include less serious problem gamblers. The present study examined the relative contribution of risk factors for [...]

Abstract This paper describes research practices and experiences employed by Maori field researchers within the context of a current research project that investigates the knowledge and insights of Maori families [...]

Over the next 50 years, New Zealand's population will age substantially. There has been wide debate about whether New Zealand should prepare for population ageing by increasing national savings. This question is addressed by choosing time paths for consumption, savings and debt, through the use of a Ramsey-Solow model of optimal saving, adapted for investigating problems of population ageing. The simulation results suggest that population ageing alone would not justify increases in national savings rates beyond those envisaged by current policy. The cost of ageing in terms of reduced real consumption is not large enough to justify large additional savings, and the concomitant reduction in current consumption., 1. Introduction (1) Over coming decades, New Zealand's population will age substantially. Statistics New Zealand (2000) suggests, for instance, that the number of people aged 65 years and over could [...]

This paper reports on a principal component factor analysis of the SF-36 health status questionnaire in the three major ethnic groups in New Zealand (New Zealand Europeans, Maori and Pacific). The SF-36 is hypothesised to have a two-dimensional structure with distinct (weakly correlated) mental and physical health components, and support for this structural model has generally been found cross-nationally. However, in Maori and Pacific models of health mental and physical dimensions are not generally seen as separable, or independently functioning. This raises the possibility that the questionnaire's hypothesised structural model would not be supported among Maori and Pacific ethnic groups. This study evaluated that possibility. The results of the analysis showed a similar factor structure among New Zealand Europeans, and younger Maori ( Keywords: Cross-cultural; SF-36; Validity; Health status; Maori; Pacific

Migration patterns observed between New Zealand's two islands occurring between 1986 and 1991 have been compared by age and ethnic group. Census data from 1991 and 1996 were used to tabulate these comparisons. Contrary to previous trends, more people moved to the south island from the north island than the north to the south, particularly among younger European populations. Maori, Asian, and Pacific Island Polynesian populations tended to move north.

Governmental policies enacted in 1991 in New Zealand altering the benefits and rent structures of those on state assistance appears to also have affected inter-regional migration patterns. Questionnaires were completed by 404 people who moved from urban to rural areas of New Zealand. Many respondents became state beneficiaries after their move. Many respondents indicated that their move was prompted by economic reasons.

Many of the population shift patterns seen in the Waikato region of New Zealand appear to follow age groupings. Distribution trends were evaluated using 1981 to 1991 population data. Many of the elderly and young populations, particularly elderly females, have moved away from the rural areas. Five distinct community grouping types were identified. These demographic changes may influence the availability of rural social services. The Maori social structure may buffer this impact on their communities.

National ethnic groups in New Zealand are self-identified in the study which examines ethnic phenomena. Pakeha people tend to see ethnic differences in terms of physical appearance. Maori tribal groups identify themselves in terms of cultural patterns easily assimilated into a New Zeland lifestyle. Negative distinctions on ethnicity will continue to be raised until ethnic pluralism is accepted.

with. -Major changes: redesign of three-part 'class' of mover question to separate arrivals from departures; modified purpose of journey categories; deletion of both new items introduced in 1970; extension of [...]

Population statistics for the UK and its constituent countries and for selected countries worldwide are presented. Population figures covering the period between 1966 and 1990 with associated breakdowns in terms of age, sex and marital status are included together with projected population figures for the period 1996-2011 and data on population changes, live birth rates and death rates.

The three islands of New Zealand were among the last to be colonized by prehistoric voyagers in the Pacific. Just when did the first canoes beach on their shores? What form did the colonization take? How quickly did the settlers explore the land and discover its resources?

The study report of the precision and accuracy of an infrared burrow scope for detecting sooty shearwater (Puffinus griseus) chicks from 3 islands in southern New Zealand in 2003 is presented.

There is a significant growth of ethnic students in schools of Aotearoa, New Zealand. The article examines the impact of cultural diversity on teachers' performance.

During the nineteenth century, a strong pulse of demographic ageing overtook New ZealandEs non-Maori population. A framework of associated and proximate determinants of demographic change is developed to review and determine the relative importance of each of the dynamic components, fertility, mortality and immigration as a cause of the episode of ageing among non-Maori New Zealanders.