 Total people, ethnic group | Total people, age | | 3,732,000 | 3,880,500 | 4,184,600 | 4,442,100 | 4,900,600 |
| European or Other (including New Zealander) | | 3,074,600 | 3,074,000 | 3,213,300 | 3,312,100 | 3,441,700 |
| Maori | | 573,200 | 585,900 | 624,300 | 692,300 | 816,500 |
| Pacific | | 229,300 | 261,800 | 301,600 | 344,400 | 407,700 |
| Asian | | 194,800 | 272,500 | 404,400 | 541,300 | 770,600 |
| Middle Eastern/Latin American/African | | 18,450 | 27,600 | 38,600 | 53,100 | 77,000 |