Settling In Palmerston North and Feilding - Human Rights Commission

Occupation of New Zealand born and overseas born, 2006:Palmerston North CityPercent of population4035New Zealand bornOverseas born302520151050Managers Professionals Technicians andCommunity andClerical andSales WorkersMachineryLabourersTrades WorkersPersonal ServiceAdministrativeOperators andWorkersWorkersDriversOccupation typeSource: Census of Population and DwellingsPersonal income• In general, people born overseas earn less than those born in New Zealand. In 2006, 48% of all overseas-born people in the country hadannual incomes of $20,000 or less compared with 41% of New Zealand born. The same was true in both Palmerston North and Feilding. Atthe 2006 census, 51% of the city’s overseas-born population and 50% of those in Feilding had incomes of $20,000 or less, compared with 43%and 48% of New Zealand born respectively.SETTLING IN PALMERSTON NORTH AND FEILDING• People born in Asia are more likely to be in the lower income brackets than all overseas-born people, possibly because they include higherproportions of recent immigrants and higher proportions of tertiary students. In 2006, 67% of Asian-born people in Palmerston North and 57%of those in Feilding had incomes of $20,000 or less (61% nationally). Among people born in the Pacific Islands, 50% in Palmerston North and41% in Feilding had incomes of this level (48% nationally).• At the other end of the income range, overseas-born residents of Palmerston North and Feilding were slightly more likely than New Zealandborn to have incomes over $50,000 per year. Around 17% of the city’s residents born overseas had annual incomes of that level compared with15% of New Zealand born, and in Feilding 13% of overseas-born and 11% of New Zealand born reported incomes above $50,000. However, inPalmerston North, people born in Asia and the Pacific Islands were less likely to be in the higher income brackets, with just 9% of each grouphaving incomes over $50,000.HighlightsWe now know that in Palmerston North in 2006:• 17% of the population was born overseas.• The city’s population overall was very young, with 19% aged between 15 and 24 years.• Close to one in five of the city’s youth population (15–24 year olds) was born overseas.• One half (50%) of the overseas-born residents had been in New Zealand less than 10 years.• The overseas-born residents as a group were more highly qualified than those across NewZealand.• Asia was the most common birthplace of overseas-born residents.We now know that in Feilding in 2006:• 10% of the total population was born overseas.• Of those overseas-born residents, almost one-third was aged 60 or over.• Almost half of the town’s overseas-born residents came to New Zealand 30 or more years ago.16Source: 2006 census