1861 New Zealand census

Third census of
the Colony of New Zealand
Third census of ; the Colony of New Zealand
General information
Country	New Zealand
Results
Total population	101,915 (66%)
Most populous provincial district	Otago (27,163)
Least populous provincial district	Southland (1,820)

The 1861 New Zealand census was a national census of Europeans and "half-castes", taken on 16 December 1861.

The European population in 1851 was 26,707 people, and by 1858 this had increased by 121% to 59,254 people. The census in December 1861 counted 98,915 Europeans and "half-castes", which equalled an increase of 281% over the previous 10 years since the 1851 census. Adding an estimated 3000 gold diggers in the Otago gold fields gave a total of 101,915 people. 7294 military men and their families stationed in New Zealand were not included in the census. It was estimated that there were also 100 Europeans on Stewart Island and the Chatham Islands.^[2] The census showed that there were 2,760,163 sheep in the country.^[3]

Māori were not counted in the census, but it was estimated that the Maori population numbered around 55,336, almost all in the North Island.^[4] Reports about Māori settlements around New Zealand were sent to the government by Native Officers in 1861. These list names of leaders, their political affiliations and some population information.^[5]

The Otago gold rush which began in mid-1861 skewed some figures. One newspaper report stated: "By the census lately taken on the gold fields by the police, it appears that the number of names collected was 11,435. The Sub-Enumerators consider that there were about 4,000 they were not able to collect owing to the diggers rushing about. This makes the population in all, 15,435."^[6] In Wellington Province the population had only increased by 7% since 1858, and there were 414 fewer men aged between 21 and 40 than at the previous census in 1858. This was stated to be mainly due to the absence of men who had gone to the goldfields in Otago. There were more married women than married men in Wellington, and overall a higher proportion of women than was expected.^[7]

Taranaki was the only area which had a decrease in population, due to war there.^[8]

European population changes since 1858 census

Region	1861 Population	Population change since 1858^[2]
Auckland	24,420	+34.3%
Taranaki	2,044	-22.9%
Hawke's Bay	2,611	+14.6%
Wellington	12,566	+14.6%
Nelson	9,952	+32.1%
Marlborough	2,299	+32.1%
Canterbury	16,040	+78.8%
Otago	27,163	+317.3%
Southland	1,820	+317.3%

Birthplaces of the European population in 1861

Country^[4]	Population	Percent (%)
New Zealand-born	27,604	27.86
England	36,128	36.49
Scotland	15,584	15.69
Ireland	8,831	8.92
Wales	472	0.48
Australian colonies	2,579	2.61
Other British dominions	1,848	1.87
United States of America	720	0.73
Germany	780	0.78
France	319	0.32
Other foreign countries, at sea, not specified	4,206	4.25
Total New Zealand	99,021	100.0

Religious denominations of the European population in 1861

Demonination^[4]	Percent (%)
Church of England	44.89
Church of Scotland; Free Church of Scotland; and Other Presbyterians	21.41
Roman Catholic Church	10.98
Wesleyan Methodists	7.75
Congregational Independents	2.09
Baptists	1.98
Primitive Methodists	0.73
Lutherans	0.68
Hebrews	0.32
Society of Friends	0.07
Protestants	4.09
Other, or not stated	5.01

References

^ Europeans and half-castes only
^ ^a ^b "Abstracts and Summary Tables of Results of the Census of New Zealand, taken on the 16th of December, 1861". Appendices to the Journals of the House of Representatives. Session I, D 9: 4. 19 June 1862 – via Papers Past.
^ "The Census". Wellington Independent. 11 July 1862. p. 4 – via Papers Past.
^ ^a ^b ^c "STATISTICS OF NEW ZEALAND FOR 1861". www3.stats.govt.nz. Retrieved 2024-01-16.
^ "Reports on the State of the Natives in Various Districts, at the time of the Arrival of Sir George Grey". Appendices to the Journals of the House of Representatives. Session I, E 7. 1862 – via Papers Past.
^ "Population on the gold fields". Wellington Independent. 10 January 1862. p. 3 – via Papers Past.
^ "Provincial Council". New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian. 26 April 1862. p. 3 – via Papers Past.
^ "The Census". Lyttelton Times. 16 July 1862. p. 4 – via Papers Past.

[1] Europeans and half-castes only

[:0-2] "Abstracts and Summary Tables of Results of the Census of New Zealand, taken on the 16th of December, 1861". Appendices to the Journals of the House of Representatives. Session I, D 9: 4. 19 June 1862 – via Papers Past.

[3] "The Census". Wellington Independent. 11 July 1862. p. 4 – via Papers Past.

[:1-4] "STATISTICS OF NEW ZEALAND FOR 1861". www3.stats.govt.nz. Retrieved 2024-01-16.

[5] "Reports on the State of the Natives in Various Districts, at the time of the Arrival of Sir George Grey". Appendices to the Journals of the House of Representatives. Session I, E 7. 1862 – via Papers Past.

[6] "Population on the gold fields". Wellington Independent. 10 January 1862. p. 3 – via Papers Past.

[7] "Provincial Council". New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian. 26 April 1862. p. 3 – via Papers Past.

[8] "The Census". Lyttelton Times. 16 July 1862. p. 4 – via Papers Past.

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v t e New Zealand census
Separate European and Māori censuses	1851† 1858 1861† 1864† 1867† 1871† 1874 1878 1881 1886 1891 1896 1901 1906 1911 1916 1921 1926 1931‡ 1936 1941‡ 1945
Combined censuses	1951 1956 1961 1966 1971 1976 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006 2011‡ 2013 2018 2023
Statistics New Zealand † indicates censuses in which Māori were not included ‡ indicates cancelled censuses