Early Census Information

Our Heritage Collection has a number of early New Zealand statistical publications. The first New Zealand Census was conducted in 1851. The Heritage Collection holds some general Census summaries from 1871. Looking at some of these early publications can tell us a lot about New Zealand at the time.

The 1871 Census was held on the 27 February. The summary is presented in a series of tables with information down to province or electoral district level. The population of the Waikato Electoral District at the time was 3,274, of these 812 males and 708 females were under the age of 21. Information was collected not only on how many rooms were in a house, but also on the materials the house was constructed with. In the Waikato Electoral District, 43 houses were constructed of Raupo. The Thames area had the most houses constructed with Raupo, while very few houses in the South Island were made of Raupo. Other information included figures on land, not only how much land is owned but also how much land was sown in crops. In addition, we can find figures on how much livestock was owned – horses, mules and asses, cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and poultry. Under the Industry category there are figures for the numbers of mills – grain and flax, breweries and for various other manufacturing works including bone-manure, candle and soap making, iron and brass foundries, malt kilns and collieries. Comparing this information with information on later censuses and other statistical publications provides an insight into the realities of life in New Zealand at the time.