Māori descent data

Māori descent concept defines if a person is of Māori descent, not of Māori descent, or does not know if they are of Māori descent. A person is of Māori descent if they are descended from Māori.

Māori descent is based on a genealogical or biological concept. For the purposes of the Māori descent classification, having Cook Island Māori ancestry is not classified as being of Māori descent.

Overall quality rating

The overall quality rating is very high.

How this data is classified

The 2023 Census classification for Māori descent is consistent with that used in 2018 Census.

Question format

The modes of collection (online and paper forms) had different ways a person could respond.

Māori descent data sources

Alternative data sources were used for missing and residual census responses and responses that could not be classified or did not provide the type of information asked for. This is an extension of the methodology for the collection of Māori descent in the 2018 Census. The table below shows the distribution of data sources for Māori descent data.

Data sources for Māori descent data, as a percentage of census usually resident population count, 2023 Census
Source of Māori descent data	Percent
2023 Census response	85.3
Historical census	9.1
2018 Census		6.5
2013 Census		2.6
Admin data	3.5
Parental data	0.1
Deterministic derivation	0.1
Statistical imputation	2.0
CANCEIS(1) donor’s response sourced from 2023 Census form		0.8
CANCEIS donor’s response sourced from 2018 Census		0.7
CANCEIS donor’s response sourced from 2013 Census		0.2
CANCEIS donor’s response sourced from admin data		0.3
CANCEIS donor’s response sourced from parental data		<0.1
No information	0.0
Total	100.0
1. CANCEIS = imputation based on CANadian Census Edit and Imputation System * Due to rounding, individual figures may not always sum to the stated total(s).

Where appropriate, responses are used from the 2018 and 2013 Censuses to replace missing or residual responses. When this was not possible, the following admin data sources were used:

Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) Births Register
Electoral Commission electoral roll.

Electoral roll data was introduced as an admin data source for the first time in the 2023 Census.

If it was not possible to obtain Māori descent information from historical census data or admin data, ‘parental’ data was used. This is where Māori descent values for parents or grandparents can be used to fill missing information on Māori descent for their children or grandchildren.

If a value for Māori descent is still missing, deterministic derivation is used. This is when a valid iwi value on the 2023 Census form, historical census data, or admin data is used to confirm Māori descent.

Statistical imputation was used for any records that remained coded to ‘not stated’ or other residual categories.

Missing and residual responses

Missing and residual responses represent data gaps where respondents either did not provide answers (missing responses) or provided answers that were not valid (residual responses) in the 2023 Census.

Alternative data sources have been used to fill missing and residual responses in the 2023 and 2018 Censuses. In the 2013 Census, missing and residual responses were left in the data with 9.9 percent of responses being coded to ‘Not stated’.

Recommendations for use and further information

Māori descent data can be used in a comparable manner to the 2013 and 2018 Censuses and it is recommended that data users familiarise themselves with the changes in methodology between each census.

In the 2013 Census, alternative data sources were not used to fill in missing data and this should be considered when making comparisons with data from the 2013 or earlier censuses. It is recommended that all categories of the classification should be used in time series comparisons so the residual counts in previous years will be clear. When comparing percentages, the ‘Total stated’ population should be used as the denominator.

Regarding the use of Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) Births Register as an admin data source for the Māori descent data, please note the following caveats:

DIA Births Register could only be used to source Māori descent for individuals born after 01 September 1995, when Māori descent was added
Children of Māori descent born overseas are not included in the DIA Births Register

More information

More information on the 2023 Māori descent variable is here.

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