Auckland Region

Auckland
Auckland
Region
	Auckland Region within New Zealand
	Coordinates: 36°54′S 174°47′E / 36.900°S 174.783°E
Country	New Zealand
Island	North Island
Government
• Type	Unitary authority
• Body	Auckland Council
• Mayor	Wayne Brown
Area
• Land	4,941.13 km2 (1,907.78 sq mi)
Population (June 2023)
• Total	1,739,300
GDP
• Total	NZ$ 136.493 billion (2021)
• Per capita	NZ$ 80,328 (2021)
HDI (2021)	0.951; very high · 2nd
Website	AucklandCouncil.govt.nz

Auckland (Māori: Tāmaki Makaurau) is one of the 16 regions of New Zealand, which takes its name from the eponymous urban area. The region encompasses the Auckland metropolitan area, smaller towns, rural areas, and the islands of the Hauraki Gulf. Containing 33 percent of the nation's residents,^[2] it has by far the largest population and economy of any region of New Zealand, but the second-smallest land area.

On 1 November 2010, the Auckland region became a unitary authority administered by the Auckland Council, replacing the previous regional council and seven local councils. In the process, an area in its southeastern corner was transferred to the neighbouring Waikato region. Since then, the Auckland Council has introduced a system of local boards to divide the region for local government.^[5]

Geography

True-colour image of the region showing the Auckland urban area as the brownish area just left of centre, with the Hauraki Gulf to the right

On the mainland, the region extends from the mouth of the Kaipara Harbour in the north across the southern stretches of the Northland Peninsula, through the Waitākere Ranges and the Auckland isthmus and across the low-lying land surrounding the Manukau Harbour, ending within a few kilometres of the mouth of the Waikato River.^[6] It also includes the islands of the Hauraki Gulf. It is bordered in the north by the Northland Region, and in the south by the Waikato region. The Hunua Ranges and the adjacent coastline along the Firth of Thames were part of the region until the Auckland Council was formed in late 2010, when they were transferred to the Waikato region. In land area the region is smaller than all the other regions and unitary authorities except Nelson.

The region's coastline is 3,702 kilometres (2,300 mi) long.^[7] It has about 21,000 kilometres (13,000 mi) of rivers and streams, about 8 percent of these in urban areas.^[7] Its highest point is the summit of Little Barrier Island, at 722 metres.

Past administrative divisions

Prior to the merger into the Auckland Council on 1 November 2010, the Auckland Region consisted of seven territorial local authorities (TLAs); four cities and three districts:

Biodiversity

The Auckland Region is home to at least 23 known species or subspecies exclusively found in the region. This includes plant species such as the Waitākere rock koromiko, the undesccribed Mokohinau gecko, insect species such as the Little Barrier giant wētā, and bird species known to roost exclusively in the Auckland Region, such as the New Zealand storm petrel. Many endemic species are found exclusively within the Waitākere Ranges, on Great Barrier Island, Little Barrier Island and the Mokohinau Islands.

Demographics

Auckland Region covers 4,941.13 km² (1,907.78 sq mi)^[1] and had an estimated population of 1,739,300 as of June 2023,^[2] with a population density of 352 people per km².

Ethnicities, 2023 Census
Ethnicity	Population
New Zealand European	825,144
Māori	203,544
Pasifika	275,079
Asian	518,178
MELAA	44,718
Other	15,144

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1991	943,773	—
1996	1,068,660	+2.52%
2001	1,158,891	+1.63%
2006	1,304,958	+2.40%
2013	1,415,550	+1.17%
2018	1,571,718	+2.12%
2023	1,656,486	+1.06%
Source: ^[8]^[9]

Auckland Region had a population of 1,656,486 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 84,768 people (5.4%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 240,936 people (17.0%) since the 2013 census. There were 611,895 dwellings. The median age was 35.9 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 318,843 people (19.2%) aged under 15 years, 346,938 (20.9%) aged 15 to 29, 770,952 (46.5%) aged 30 to 64, and 219,753 (13.3%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 49.8% European (Pākehā), 12.3% Māori, 16.6% Pasifika, 31.3% Asian, 2.7% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders, and 0.9% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.^[9] Auckland is the only region, and one of only three territorial authority areas (along with the Ōpōtiki district and Wairoa district), where Europeans do not form a majority of the population.^[9]

Auckland Region had a population of 1,571,718 at the 2018 New Zealand census. There were 496,458 households. There were 776,979 males and 794,742 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.98 males per female.

English is the most spoken language (92.8%) followed by Samoan (4.4%), Mandarin (4.4%), Hindi (3.0%) and Te Reo Māori (2.4%). Percentages add up to more than 100% as people may select more than one language.

The proportion of people born overseas was 41.0%, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 42.6% had no religion, 38.4% were Christian, 5.2% were Hindu, 2.6% were Muslim, 1.9% were Buddhist and 3.9% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 360,954 (28.7%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 168,276 (13.4%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $34,400, compared with $31,800 nationally. 248,613 people (19.8%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 652,797 (51.9%) people were employed full-time, 171,738 (13.7%) were part-time, and 51,561 (4.1%) were unemployed.^[10]