New Zealand Population: South Island (SI) data was reported at 1,242,300.000 Person in 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 1,226,100.000 Person for 2023. New Zealand Population: South Island (SI) data is updated yearly, averaging 1,033,700.000 Person from Jun 1996 (Median) to 2024, with 29 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,242,300.000 Person in 2024 and a record low of 921,100.000 Person in 1996. New Zealand Population: South Island (SI) data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Stats NZ. The data is categorized under Global Database’s New Zealand – Table NZ.G005: Population: by Region.

Statistical Area 2 2023 update

SA2 2023 is the first major update of the geography since it was first created in 2018. The update is to ensure SA2s are relevant and meet criteria before each five-yearly population and dwelling census. SA2 2023 contains 135 new SA2s. Updates were made to reflect real world change of population and dwelling growth mainly in urban areas, and to make some improvements to their delineation of communities of interest.

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Description

This dataset is the definitive version of the annually released statistical area 2 (SA2) boundaries as at 1 January 2023 as defined by Stats NZ. This version contains 2,395 SA2s (2,379 digitised and 16 with empty or null geometries (non-digitised)).

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SA2 is an output geography that provides higher aggregations of population data than can be provided at the statistical area 1 (SA1) level. The SA2 geography aims to reflect communities that interact together socially and economically. In populated areas, SA2s generally contain similar sized populations.

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The SA2 should:

form a contiguous cluster of one or more SA1s,

excluding exceptions below, allow the release of multivariate statistics with minimal data suppression,

capture a similar type of area, such as a high-density urban area, farmland, wilderness area, and water area,

be socially homogeneous and capture a community of interest. It may have, for example:

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• a shared road network,
• shared community facilities,
• shared historical or social links, or
• socio-economic similarity,

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form a nested hierarchy with statistical output geographies and administrative boundaries. It must:

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• be built from SA1s,
• either define or aggregate to define SA3s, urban areas, territorial authorities, and regional councils.

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SA2s in city council areas generally have a population of 2,000–4,000 residents while SA2s in district council areas generally have a population of 1,000–3,000 residents.

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In major urban areas, an SA2 or a group of SA2s often approximates a single suburb. In rural areas, rural settlements are included in their respective SA2 with the surrounding rural area.

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SA2s in urban areas where there is significant business and industrial activity, for example ports, airports, industrial, commercial, and retail areas, often have fewer than 1,000 residents. These SA2s are useful for analysing business demographics, labour markets, and commuting patterns.

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In rural areas, some SA2s have fewer than 1,000 residents because they are in conservation areas or contain sparse populations that cover a large area.

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To minimise suppression of population data, small islands with zero or low populations close to the mainland, and marinas are generally included in their adjacent land-based SA2.

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Zero or nominal population SA2s

To ensure that the SA2 geography covers all of New Zealand and aligns with New Zealand’s topography and local government boundaries, some SA2s have zero or nominal populations. These include:

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• SA2s where territorial authority boundaries straddle regional council boundaries. These SA2s each have fewer than 200 residents and are: Arahiwi, Tiroa, Rangataiki, Kaimanawa, Taharua, Te More, Ngamatea, Whangamomona, and Mara.
• SA2s created for single islands or groups of islands that are some distance from the mainland or to separate large unpopulated islands from urban areas
• SA2s that represent inland water, inlets or oceanic areas including: inland lakes larger than 50 square kilometres, harbours larger than 40 square kilometres, major ports, other non-contiguous inlets and harbours defined by territorial authority, and contiguous oceanic areas defined by regional council.
• SA2s for non-digitised oceanic areas, offshore oil rigs, islands, and the Ross Dependency. Each SA2 is represented by a single meshblock. The following 16 SA2s are held in non-digitised form (SA2 code; SA2 name):

400001; New Zealand Economic Zone, 400002; Oceanic Kermadec Islands, 400003; Kermadec Islands, 400004; Oceanic Oil Rig Taranaki, 400005; Oceanic Campbell Island, 400006; Campbell Island, 400007; Oceanic Oil Rig Southland, 400008; Oceanic Auckland Islands, 400009; Auckland Islands, 400010 ; Oceanic Bounty Islands, 400011; Bounty Islands, 400012; Oceanic Snares Islands, 400013; Snares Islands, 400014; Oceanic Antipodes Islands, 400015; Antipodes Islands, 400016; Ross Dependency.

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SA2 numbering and naming

Each SA2 is a single geographic entity with a name and a numeric code. The name refers to a geographic feature or a recognised place name or suburb. In some instances where place names are the same or very similar, the SA2s are differentiated by their territorial authority name, for example, Gladstone (Carterton District) and Gladstone (Invercargill City).

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SA2 codes have six digits. North Island SA2 codes start with a 1 or 2, South Island SA2 codes start with a 3 and non-digitised SA2 codes start with a 4. They are numbered approximately north to south within their respective territorial authorities. To ensure the north–south code pattern is maintained, the SA2 codes were given 00 for the last two digits when the geography was created in 2018. When SA2 names or boundaries change only the last two digits of the code will change.

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For more information please refer to the Statistical standard for geographic areas 2023.

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Generalised version

This generalised version has been simplified for rapid drawing and is designed for thematic or web mapping purposes.

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Macrons

Names are provided with and without tohutō/macrons. The column name for those without macrons is suffixed ‘ascii’.

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Digital data

Digital boundary data became freely available on 1 July 2007.

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To download geographic classifications in table formats such as CSV please use Ariā

Yearly citation counts for the publication titled "- Regional Population Connectivity, Oceanic Habitat, and Return Migration Revealed by Satellite Tagging of White Sharks, Carcharodon carcharias, at New Zealand Aggregation Sites".

Auckland Council maintains a growth scenario to inform investment decision-making across the region. The Auckland Growth Scenario provides household, employment and population projections over a 30-year period. It is based on regional level population information commissioned from Stats NZ and is primarily intended to provide a numerical distribution of growth that is aligned with the timing and sequencing of growth in the Future Development Strategy 2023, over time. Data is at MSM Zone scale, and provides annual projections of population, households and employment (MEC) for use in strategic planning between 2022 and 2052. This version is an update (to employment projections only) of AGSv1 as used in the 2024 LTP. Further information is available on knowledgeauckland.org.nz, search “AGS” or follow the link: https://www.knowledgeauckland.org.nz/publications/auckland-growth-scenario-2023-version-11-ags23v11-data/

Refer to the 'Current Geographic Boundaries Table' layer for a list of all current geographies and recent updates.

This dataset is the definitive version of the annually released urban rural (UR) boundaries as at 1 January 2025 as defined by Stats NZ, clipped to the coastline. This clipped version has been created for cartographic purposes and so does not fully represent the official full extent boundaries. This version contains 689 UR areas, including 195 urban areas and 402 rural settlements.

Urban rural (UR) is an output geography that classifies New Zealand into areas that share common urban or rural characteristics and is used to disseminate a broad range of Stats NZ’s social, demographic and economic statistics.

The UR separately identifies urban areas, rural settlements, other rural areas, and water areas. Urban areas and rural settlements are form-based geographies delineated by the inspection of aerial imagery, local government land designations on district plan maps, address registers, property title data, and any other available information. However, because the underlying meshblock pattern is used to define the geographies, boundaries may not align exactly with local government land designations or what can be seen in aerial images. Other rural areas, and bodies of water represent areas not included within an urban area.

Urban areas are built from the statistical area 2 (SA2) geography, while rural and water areas are built from the statistical area 1 (SA1) geography.

Urban areas

Urban areas are statistically defined areas with no administrative or legal basis. They are characterised by high population density with many built environment features where people and buildings are located close together for residential, cultural, productive, trade and social purposes.

Urban areas are delineated using the following criteria. They:

form a contiguous cluster of one or more SA2s,

contain an estimated resident population of more than 1,000 people and usually have a population density of more than 400 residents or 200 address points per square kilometre,

have a high coverage of built physical structures and artificial landscapes such as:

• residential dwellings and apartments,
• commercial structures, such as factories, office complexes, and shopping centres,
• transport and communication facilities, such as airports, ports and port facilities, railway stations, bus stations and similar transport hubs, and communications infrastructure,
• medical, education, and community facilities,
• tourist attractions and accommodation facilities,
• waste disposal and sewerage facilities,
• cemeteries,
• sports and recreation facilities, such as stadiums, golf courses, racecourses, showgrounds, and fitness centres,
• green spaces, such as community parks, gardens, and reserves,

have strong economic ties where people gather together to work, and for social, cultural, and recreational interaction,

have planned development within the next 5–8 years.

Urban boundaries are independent of local government and other administrative boundaries. However, the Richmond urban area, which is mainly in the Tasman District, is the only urban area that crosses territorial authority boundaries

Rural areas

Rural areas are classified as rural settlements or other rural.

Rural settlements

Rural settlements are statistically defined areas with no administrative or legal basis. A rural settlement is a cluster of residential dwellings about a place that usually contains at least one community or public building.

Rural settlements are delineated using the following criteria. They:

form a contiguous cluster of one or more SA1s,

contain an estimated resident population of 200–1,000, or at least 40 residential dwellings,

represent a reasonably compact area or have a visible centre of population with a population density of at least 200 residents per square kilometre or 100 address points per square kilometre,

contain at least one community or public building, such as a church, school, or shop.

To reach the target SA2 population size of more than 1,000 residents, rural settlements are usually included with other rural SA1s to form an SA2. In some instances, the settlement and the SA2 have the same name, for example, Kirwee rural settlement is part of the Kirwee SA2.

Some rural settlements whose populations are just under 1,000 are a single SA2. Creating separate SA2s for these rural settlements allows for easy reclassification to urban areas if their populations grow beyond 1,000.

Other rural

Other rural areas are the mainland areas and islands located outside urban areas or rural settlements. Other rural areas include land used for agriculture and forestry, conservation areas, and regional and national parks. Other rural areas are defined by territorial authority.

Water

Bodies of water are classified separately, using the land/water demarcation classification described in the Statistical standard for meshblock. These water areas are not named and are defined by territorial authority or regional council.

The water classes include:

inland water – non-contiguous, defined by territorial authority,

inlets (which also includes tidal areas and harbours) – non-contiguous, defined by territorial authority,

oceanic – non-contiguous, defined by regional council.

To minimise suppression of population data, separate meshblocks have been created for marinas. These meshblocks are attached to adjacent land in the UR geography.

Non-digitised

The following 4 non-digitised UR areas have been aggregated from the 16 non-digitised meshblocks/SA2s.

6901; Oceanic outside region, 6902; Oceanic oil rigs, 6903; Islands outside region, 6904; Ross Dependency outside region.

UR numbering and naming

Each urban area and rural settlement is a single geographic entity with a name and a numeric code.

Other rural areas, inland water areas, and inlets are defined by territorial authority; oceanic areas are defined by regional council; and each have a name and a numeric code.

Urban rural codes have four digits. North Island locations start with a 1, South Island codes start with a 2, oceanic codes start with a 6 and non-digitised codes start with 69.

Urban rural indicator (IUR)

The accompanying urban rural indicator (IUR) classifies the urban, rural, and water areas by type. Urban areas are further classified by the size of their estimated resident population:

• major urban area – 100,000 or more residents,
• large urban area – 30,000–99,999 residents,
• medium urban area – 10,000–29,999 residents,
• small urban area – 1,000–9,999 residents.

This was based on 2018 Census data and 2021 population estimates. Their IUR status (urban area size/rural settlement) may change if the 2025 Census population count moves them up or down a category.

The indicators, by name, with their codes in brackets, are:

urban area – major urban (11), large urban (12), medium urban (13), small urban (14),

rural area – rural settlement (21), rural other (22),

water – inland water (31), inlet (32), oceanic (33).

Clipped Version

This clipped version has been created for cartographic purposes and so does not fully represent the official full extent boundaries.

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High definition version

This high definition (HD) version is the most detailed geometry, suitable for use in GIS for geometric analysis operations and for the computation of areas, centroids and other metrics. The HD version is aligned to the LINZ cadastre.

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Macrons

Names are provided with and without tohutō/macrons. The column name for those without macrons is suffixed ‘ascii’.

​

Digital data

Digital boundary data became freely available on 1 July 2007.

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Further information

To download geographic classifications in table formats such as CSV please use Ariā

For more information please refer to the Statistical standard for geographic areas 2023.

Contact: geography@stats.govt.nz

In 2022, around ** percent of the New Zealand population were active social media users. The social media penetration rate has continued to increase, in-line with the growing digitalization of the country. While not the most active country in the Asia Pacific region, New Zealand still ranked in the top ten in terms of social media penetration out of countries from Asia Pacific. How are Kiwis using social media? Most of the population use social media on a mobile device. With increasing smartphone usage and accessibility, current global trends look set to establish the standard for mobile-only social media usage in the near future. In fact, many social media services are better experienced on a mobile device. An average of *** hour and ** minutes per day were spent on social media by internet users in the country in 2020. This is much lower than the approximate **** hours per day spent by online users in the Philippines. Which social media are the most popular? The most popular social networks in the country included YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. YouTube and Facebook dominated the market, both with over ** percent penetration rates. Facebook was popular among all age groups, with the highest number of Facebook users in the 25 to 34-year age group. Instagram has gained popularity with younger generations in the country.

Aerial surveys of southern right whales (Eubalaena australis) were undertaken off the southern Australian coast to monitor the recovery of this endangered species following extreme 19th and 20th Century commercial whaling. The aerial survey was undertaken in the coastal waters from Perth (Western Australia) to Ceduna (South Australia) between the 12th and 19th August 2022, to maintain the annual series of surveys and inform the long-term population trend. The survey resulted in a total 526 whales sighted, consisting of 247 cow-calf pairs, 31 unaccompanied adults and 1 yearling. The ‘western’ population of southern right whales in Australian waters is increasing in size (~5.3% per year based on female/calf pairs and a population estimate of 2675 whales) based on the long-term population trend data from the annual aerial surveys. This represents the majority of the Australian population given the very low numbers in the ‘eastern’ population. The 2022 surveys recorded the lowest number of unaccompanied animals (i.e. males and females without a calf) ever throughout the time-series of the annual aerial surveys since 1993 when survey coverage between Cape Leeuwin and Ceduna first began. Across this time series, there is a particularly notable decline in sightings of unaccompanied animals over the past five years. It is currently unclear what factors account for the decline in these sightings or may influence the variation in numbers of unaccompanied animals on the southern Australian coast. Lower than expected counts in the long-term data may provide evidence of a slowing population growth rate, which can only be assessed by continued annual population surveys to assess population trend data.

We want Wellington to be a city where we have healthy, affordable homes in connected and lively neighbourhoods, close to the places we live, work and play. It is important that we provide for a variety of housing type, so that everyone has an opportunity to own or rent a quality home in the city.Since 2000 population growth in Wellington has outstripped the number of dwellings constructed and this trend is set to continue. We are already feeling the effects of high house prices and high rents; it is also increasingly difficult for first home buyers to purchase a home.Over the next 30 years we will need between 25,000 and 32,000 new dwellings to meet our projected growth demands. However, under current planning settings it is estimated the city will only have capacity for 20,000 dwellings over this time horizon, leaving a shortfall of between 5,000 and 12,000 dwellings.The Regional Housing and Business Capacity Assessment Report takes a 30-year look at Wellington’s urban District Councils (Wellington, Hutt City, Upper Hutt, Porirua, and Kapiti Coast) capacity for housing and business. The report estimates that based on predicted population growth across the five districts, and current development controls and patterns, the region faces a shortfall of approximately 9,000 to 21,000 dwellings. Without action, Wellington City will face a shortfall of between 4,600 and 12,000 dwellings by 2047.The Wellington City Residential Catchments have been created by grouping together areas of the city that form logical housing catchments i.e. the southern suburbs vs. the eastern suburbs. They represent clearer sub-markets of the city in which the demand and supply of different typologies can be contrasted at a more detailed level.The demand, capacity, and difference values in the dataset summarise the projected dwellings information of chapter 2, section 4 of the Wellington Regional Housing and Business Development Capacity report. It is recommended this section is reviewed while using this data.Wellington Regional Housing and Business Development Capacity - Chapter 2 - Wellington City Council is available on the Planning for Growth website: https://planningforgrowth.wellington.govt.nz/resources1/documentsFor more information contact the Planning for Growth team: planningforgrowth@wcc.govt.nz

Abstract

The 2009 Samoa Demographic and Health Survey (2009 SDHS) is a nationally representative sample survey designed to provide information on population and health issues in Samoa. The survey used a two-stage sample based on the 2006 Population and Housing Census (PHC) to produce separate estimates for key indicators for each of the four geographic regions in Samoa. Each household selected for the SDHS was eligible for interview with the Household Questionnaire, and a total of 2,247 households were interviewed. In all of the households selected for the survey, all eligible women age 15-49 were interviewed with the Women's Questionnaire. In addition, all eligible men age 15-54 in every other household (half of all households) selected for the survey were interviewed with the Men's Questionnaire. A total of 3,033 women age 15-49 and 1,689 men age 15-54 were interviewed. Data collection took place from early August to early September 2009.

The survey obtained detailed information on fertility, marriage, sexual activity, fertility preferences, awareness and use of family planning methods, breastfeeding practices, nutritional status of women and young children, childhood mortality, maternal and child health, awareness and behaviour regarding HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and knowledge and attitudes toward tuberculosis.

OBJECTIVES AND ORGANIZATION OF THE SURVEY

The 2009 SDHS is a nationally representative sample survey designed to provide information on population and health issues in Samoa. The primary goal of the survey is to develop a single integrated set of demographic and health data pertaining to the population of Samoa.

The survey was an initiative of the MOH under its Health Sector Wide Approach program (SWAp). The MOH emphasized the importance of conducting a nationally representative survey such as the SDHS to provide a broad range of data to help assess the health and demographic status of the Samoan population and to assist with monitoring and evaluation of various health and population indicators. Furthermore, the SDHS survey should improve the quality and quantity of the health and population data available to the MOH by other sources.

The SDHS was conducted during August and September 2009 by the Samoa Bureau of Statistics (SBS). The SBS worked in close collaboration with the MOH for guidance in areas pertaining to health. ICF Macro provided technical support for the survey through the MEASURE DHS project. Funding for the survey was provided by the World Bank/International Development Association (IDA), the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), and the New Zealand Agency for International Development (NZAID). UNICEF and UNFPA also provided financial support for the report writing.

The survey collected national and regional level data on fertility and contraceptive use, maternal and child health, adult health, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. The survey obtained detailed information on these issues from women of reproductive age and, on certain topics, from men as well.

The survey results are intended to provide the information needed to evaluate existing social programs and to design new strategies for improving the health of Samoans and health services for the people of Samoa. The SDHS also contributes to the growing international database on demographic and health-related variables.

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

• Fertility Levels and Trends. The 2009 SDHS findings indicate that a Samoan woman who is at the beginning of her childbearing years will, on average, give birth to 4.6 children by the end of her reproductive period (if fertility levels remain constant at the levels observed in the three-year period preceding the 2009 SDHS).
• Antenatal Care. The survey shows that over nine in ten women (93 percent) who had a live birth in the five years preceding the survey received antenatal care from a health care provider (doctor, nurse, midwife, or nurse aide) during the pregnancy of the most recent birth.
• Childhood Mortality. The reported level of under-five mortality in the 2009 SDHS is 15 deaths per 1,000 births during the most recent five-year period before the survey. This implies that at least 1 in every 66 children born in Samoa during the period died before reaching a fifth birthday. The infant mortality rate recorded in the survey for the same period is 9 deaths per 1,000 live births.
• Breastfeeding Practices. The results indicate that 92 percent of children born in the past five years have been breastfed at some time. For last-born children who were breastfed, 88 percent started breastfeeding within one hour of birth and 97 percent started breastfeeding within the first 24 hours after delivery.
• Awareness of HIV/AIDS. Knowledge of HIV/AIDS is quite high in Samoa: 85 percent of women and 87 percent of men have heard of HIV/AIDS.
• Attitudes towards People Living with HIV/AIDS. It is encouraging to see that 65 percent of women and 77 percent of men would be willing to care in their home for a family member sick with AIDS.

Geographic coverage

• National, Samoa as a whole
• Regional, Each of the four regions in Samoa: (1) Apia urban area, (2) North West Upolu, (3) Rest of Upolu, and (4) Savaii
• Urban and rural areas of Samoa (each as a separate domain)

Analysis unit

• Household
• Women age 15-49
• Men age 15-54

Universe

The population covered in the 2009 SDHS is the universe of all women age 15-49 in Samoa. Every other household selected for the women's sample was also eligible for the men's sample (men age 15-54).

Kind of data

Sample survey data

Sampling procedure

The 2009 SDHS survey is designed to allow reliable estimation of key demographic and health indicators such as fertility, contraceptive prevalence, and infant and child mortality.
The major domains distinguished in the tabulation of important characteristics for the eligible female population are: - Samoa as a whole
- Each of the four regions in Samoa: (1) Apia urban area, (2) North West Upolu, (3) Rest of Upolu, and (4) Savaii
- Urban and rural areas of Samoa (each as a separate domain).

The population covered in the 2009 SDHS is the universe of all women age 15-49 in Samoa in a sample of 2,247 selected households. Every other household selected for the women's sample was also eligible for the men's sample (men age 15-54).

The primary sampling unit (PSU) for the 2009 SDHS was the cluster. As mentioned in Chapter 1, the 2009 SDHS sample was selected in two stages. The first stage involved selecting clusters from the master sample frame (the 2006 Population and Housing Census). In the second stage, all households in each selected cluster were listed. Households were then systematically selected from each cluster for participation in the survey. The design did not allow for replacement of clusters or households.

The sample was designed to include 10 percent of the households in rural areas and 12 percent of the households in urban areas. The sample was designed to permit detailed analysis of most indicators for the national level, for urban and rural areas separately, and for each of the four regions (Apia urban area, North West Upolu, the rest of Upolu, and Savaii). Overall, a total of 296 primary sampling units or clusters were selected, 104 in urban areas and 192 in rural areas. Because Samoan households do not move frequently, a fresh household listing was not deemed to be necessary. Instead, a listing from November 2006 was used. In the urban clusters, 5 households were selected per cluster, whereas in the rural clusters, 10 households were selected per cluster. The number of clusters in each of the 4 geographical regions was calculated by dividing the total allocated number of households by the sample take of 5 for Apia urban area (the number of households for urban EAs) and 10 for other regions (the number of households for rural EAs). In each region EAs were stratified by urban location first and then by rural location. Clusters were selected systematically, with probability proportional to size.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face

Research instrument

Three questionnaires were used in the SDHS: a Household Questionnaire, a Women's Questionnaire, and a Men's Questionnaire. The household and individual questionnaires were based on model survey instruments developed in the MEASURE DHS program. The model questionnaires were adapted to meet the current needs of Samoa. Each household selected for the SDHS was eligible for interview with the Household Questionnaire.

a) The Household Questionnaire was used to list all usual members of and visitors to the selected households and to collect information on the socio-economic status of the household. The first part of the Household Questionnaire collected information on the basic demographic data for Samoan households, such as age, sex, educational attainment, and relationship of each household member or visitor to the head of the household. . It was also used to identify the women and men who were eligible for the individual interview (i.e., women age 15-49 and men age 15-54). In the second part of the Household Questionnaire, there were questions on housing characteristics (e.g., the flooring material, the source of water, and the type of toilet facilities), on ownership of a variety of consumer goods, on ownership of land and farm animals, and other questions relating to the socio-economic status of the household.

b) The Women's Questionnaire was used to collect information from all women age 15-49 years and covered the following topics: - Background characteristics

Refer to the current geographies boundaries table for a list of all current geographies and recent updates.

This dataset is the definitive of the annually released meshblock boundaries as at 1 January 2025 as defined by Stats NZ (the custodian), clipped to the coastline. This clipped version has been created for cartographic purposes and so does not fully represent the official full extent boundaries. This version contains 56,800 meshblocks.

Stats NZ maintains an annual meshblock pattern for collecting and producing statistical data. This allows data to be compared over time.

A meshblock is the smallest geographic unit for which statistical data is collected and processed by Stats NZ. A meshblock is a defined geographic area, which can vary in size from part of a city block to a large area of rural land. The optimal size for a meshblock is 30–60 dwellings (containing approximately 60–120 residents).

Each meshblock borders on another to form a network covering all of New Zealand, including coasts and inlets and extending out to the 200-mile economic zone (EEZ) and is digitised to the 12-mile limit. Meshblocks are added together to build up larger geographic areas such as statistical area 1 (SA1), statistical area 2 (SA2), statistical area 3 (SA3), and urban rural (UR). They are also used to define electoral districts, territorial authorities, and regional councils.

Meshblock boundaries generally follow road centrelines, cadastral property boundaries, or topographical features such as rivers. Expanses of water in the form of lakes and inlets are defined separately from land.

Meshblock maintenance

Meshblock boundaries are amended by:

1. Splitting – subdividing a meshblock into two or more meshblocks.

2. Nudging – shifting a boundary to a more appropriate position.

Reasons for meshblock splits and nudges can include:

• to maintain meshblock criteria rules.
• to improve the size balance of meshblocks in areas where there has been population growth
• to maintain alignment to cadastre and other geographic features.
• Stats NZ requests for boundary changes so that statistical geography boundaries can be moved
• external requests for boundary changes so that administrative or electoral boundaries can be moved
• to separate land and water. Mainland, inland water, islands, inlets, and oceanic are defined separately

Meshblock changes are made throughout the year. A major release is made at 1 January each year with ad hoc releases available to users at other times.

While meshblock boundaries are continually under review, 'freezes' on changes to the boundaries are applied periodically. Such 'freezes' are imposed at the time of population censuses and during periods of intense electoral activity, for example, prior and during general and local body elections.

Meshblock numbering

Meshblocks are not named and have seven-digit codes.

When meshblocks are split, each new meshblock is given a new code. The original meshblock codes no longer exist within that version and future versions of the meshblock classification. Meshblock codes do not change when a meshblock boundary is nudged.

Meshblocks that existed prior to 2015 and have not changed are numbered from 0000100 to 3210003. Meshblocks created from 2015 onwards are numbered from 4000000.

Digitised and non-digitised meshblocks

The digital geographic boundaries are defined and maintained by Stats NZ.

Meshblocks cover the land area of New Zealand, the water area to the 12mile limit, the Chatham Islands, Kermadec Islands, sub-Antarctic islands, offshore oil rigs, and Ross Dependency. The following 16 meshblocks are not held in digitised form.

Meshblock

Location (statistical area 2 name)

• 0016901 /Oceanic Kermadec Islands
• 0016902 / Kermadec Islands
• 1588000 / Oceanic Oil Rig Taranaki
• 3166401 / Oceanic Campbell Island
• 3166402 / Campbell Island
• 3166600 / Oceanic Oil Rig Southland
• 3166710 / Oceanic Auckland Islands
• 3166711 / Auckland Islands
• 3195000 / Ross Dependency
• 3196001 / New Zealand Economic Zone
• 3196002 / Oceanic Bounty Islands
• 3196003 / Bounty Islands
• 3196004 / Oceanic Snares Islands
• 3196005 / Snares Island
• 3196006 / Oceanic Antipodes Islands
• 3196007 / Antipodes Islands

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Clipped Version

This clipped version has been created for cartographic purposes and so does not fully represent the official full extent boundaries.

​

High-definition version

This high definition (HD) version is the most detailed geometry, suitable for use in GIS for geometric analysis operations and for the computation of areas, centroids and other metrics. The HD version is aligned to the LINZ cadastre.

​

Macrons

Names are provided with and without tohutō/macrons. The column name for those without macrons is suffixed ‘ascii’.

Digital data

Digital boundary data became freely available on 1 July 2007.

​

Further information

To download geographic classifications in table formats such as CSV please use Ariā

For more information please refer to the Statistical standard for geographic areas 2023.

Contact: geography@stats.govt.nz

Refer to the 'Current Geographic Boundaries Table' layer for a list of all current geographies and recent updates.

Territorial authorities

Territorial Authority Local Board (TALB) is a derived classification. TALB is derived from the definitive version of the annually released local boards for Auckland and territorial authorities for the rest of New Zealand as at 1 January 2025, as defined by the territorial authorities and/or Local Government Commission and maintained by Stats NZ, clipped to the coastline. This clipped version has been created for cartographic purposes and so does not fully represent the official full extent boundaries. This version contains 21 local boards in the Auckland Council and 66 territorial authority boundaries for the rest New Zealand.

Territorial authorities are the second tier of local government in New Zealand, below regional councils. They are defined under schedule 2, part 1 of the Local Government Act 2002 as city councils or district councils. Territorial authorities were established in 1989 when 205 territorial local authorities were replaced by 75 territorial authorities. Territorial boundaries must coincide with meshblock boundaries under schedule 3, clause 17 of the Local Government Act 2002.

Local boards

Local boards share governance with a council’s governing body and each has complementary responsibilities, guaranteed by legislation. Local boards can propose bylaws and they gather community views on local and regional matters. Legislation enacted in 2012 allows for the establishment of local boards in areas of new unitary authorities that are predominantly urban and have a population of more than 400,000. The boundaries of local boards cannot be abolished or changed except through a reorganisation process. If new local boards are created they will be incorporated into this classification.

Local boards are defined at meshblock level. Stats NZ must be consulted if there is a proposed boundary change that does not align with the meshblock pattern. Local boards do not coincide with the statistical area 1 (SA1), statistical area 2 (SA2) geographies, or statistical area 3 (SA3) geographies.

Auckland Council local boards

The Auckland Council was established in November 2010 under the Local Government (Tamaki Makaurau Reorganisation) Act 2009. Seven territorial authorities within the Auckland Region were abolished and replaced by the unitary authority Auckland Council. Local boards fall within the community board classification. Changes were reflected in the 2011 and subsequent community board classifications.

For statistical outputs that use territorial authorities to aggregate and report data Auckland Council is treated as a single geographic entity, whereas previously data was provided for the seven territorial authorities. Presenting data for this single territorial authority hides meaningful patterns and trends for a significant portion of the population. A solution was to create a new classification of territorial authorities that includes the local boards for Auckland.

Numbering

TALB is a flat classification. Each category has a unique five-digit code. The first three digits represent the territorial authority code, ranging from 001 to 076 (with 999 being Area Outside Territorial Authority). The last two digits indicate if the territorial authority is further defined at local board level: 00 indicates the territorial authority is “not further defined”. Auckland retains sequential codes from the community board classification.

The names for the classification are retained from the territorial authority and community board classifications.

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Clipped Version

This clipped version has been created for cartographic purposes and so does not fully represent the official full extent boundaries.

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High-definition version

This high definition (HD) version is the most detailed geometry, suitable for use in GIS for geometric analysis operations and for the computation of areas, centroids and other metrics. The HD version is aligned to the LINZ cadastre.

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Macrons

Names are provided with and without tohutō/macrons. The column name for those without macrons is suffixed ‘ascii’.

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Digital data

Digital boundary data became freely available on 1 July 2007.

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Further information

To download geographic classifications in table formats such as CSV please use Ariā

For more information please refer to the Statistical standard for geographic areas 2023.

Contact: geography@stats.govt.nz