2.0 WAIROA DISTRICT - POPULATION AND EMPLOYMENT
Key points
- Wairoa population is split approximately 50% resident in the Borough and 50% resident in rural areas.
- Population has declined since 1981 at a rate consistent with East Coast North Island rural district trends.
- Registered unemployed workers have ranged between 900 and 1200 from 1991 to 1994.
- Primary sector employment (excluding meat processing workers) accounts for approximately 25% of the workforce.
- Only 1% of total employment in the District as recorded in the 1991 census was in forestry and logging.
2.1 Data reliability
Information and statistics from the 1981, 1986 and 1991 Census of
Population and Dwellings (source: Statistics New Zealand) was analysed for the Wairoa
District Council (WDC) area. Changes were made to the geographic boundaries of some
statistical districts between 1986 and 1991 to align these districts with District Council
areas. These changes did not affect the WDC area which has virtually the same geographic
boundaries as the previous Wairoa County area, and therefore the statistics provided can
be used without adjustment in establishing population and employment trends in the
district.
2.2 Total population statistics
Appendix 2.1 contains population statistics for the District for 1981, 1986 and 1991. Significant factors include the following.
- Slightly under half of the population (4989 of a total 10266) is resident in the Wairoa urban area.
- Total population has declined by 8.3% between 1981 and 1991, the decline in the male
population being double that of the female population (-11% and -5.5% respectively). The
rate of decline slowed in the period between 1986 and 1991, as is indicated in the
following comparison of national population change.
| Period | Population change (%) | ||
| New Zealand | Rural / minor urban | Wairoa | |
1981-1986 |
+4.1 |
+4.1 |
-5.2 |
1986-1991 |
+3.9 |
+3.3 |
-3.3 |
- Total population in 1991 numbered 10266, 37% of which was less than 20 years of age.
- Only two age groupings increased in number between 1981 and 1991. These were:
30 to 49 years of age 60 years of age and over +10.8% (+261) +21.5% (+246)
The reason for these increases is not clear, nor is the issue central to this study, so
it has not been pursued further.
2.3 Employment status, total and by industry
Appendix 2.2 contains WDC population employment statistics for 1981, 1986 and 1991. A
more detailed breakdown of employment by industry is provided for 1991. This breakdown is
not available for the earlier census years except at high cost, the expenditure for which
is not justified in terms of the objectives of this study. Significant factors associated
with the employment statistics include the following.
- The total population in paid work (self-employed and wage or salary earners) decreased by 13.5% between 1981 and 1991. The most significant period of decline was between 1986 and 1991, which recorded a 19.8% decline from the 1986 employment peak.
- While total employment has declined, the number of females in the Wairoa workforce increased by 24.2% between 1981 and 1991 (although a decline of 10.3% between 1986 and 1991 is recorded). The trend to the increasing number (and proportion) of female employees in rural areas, particularly in community, social and personnel services is consistent with other rural areas in New Zealand.
- At 1991, 32.4% of the total population was employed in paid work. This represents 46.2% of the population over 15 years of age, and 57.2% of the population aged between 15 and 60 years.
- The decline in the ratio of working males to working females between 1981 and 1991 occurred in all industry groups recorded with the exception of mining. This is in line with the national movement.
- The number of unemployed people actively seeking work, as recorded by census, increased from 282 in 1981 to 534 in 1991, an increase of 89%. This amounts to 13.9% of the potential Wairoa paid workforce as recorded by the 1991 census, a figure higher than the national average at that time. More recent statistics obtained from the Wairoa Centre of the NZ Employment Service provide more up-to-date registered unemployment data.
Registered unemployed Year (annual average) 1991 995 1992 1203 1993 1199 1994 1073 1995 (3 months only) 897
The inconsistencies between the census and registered unemployed figures highlight the analytical difficulties of using national data sets, as noted in section 4.1.
- Self-employed people accounted for 19.7% of the paid workforce at 1991.
- A decrease of 25% in the number of self-employed persons who employed other workers is recorded between 1981 and 1991, a factor contributing to the increase in unemployment over the period.
- The number of part-time workers increased from 306 in 1981 to 762 in 1991, matching the national trend.
- The sectors are ranked in order of importance according to the size of their workforce as follows:
1991
Agriculture, forestry and fishing 921 Community, social and personal services 867 Manufacturing 627 Wholesale, retail and restaurant 492 Building and construction 192 Total 3099
These industries employed 89% of the paid workforce at 1991. A decrease in the number employed in all these industries except for community, social and personal services occurred between 1981 and 1991, with largest declines in the agricultural industries (-32.4%) and building and construction (-37.9%).
- In 1991 only 36 workers are recorded as being employed in the forestry and logging industry (a component of the industry group agriculture, forestry and fishing, above).
- More detail could have been obtained by using less aggregated statistics. Financial constraints precluded breakdown beyond what is incorporated in this study.
Contact for Enquiries
Rural Affairs Coordinator
Sector Performance Policy
MAF Policy
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
PO Box 2526
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND
Phone: +64 4 894 0675
Fax: +64 4 4 894 0745
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