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Indians in New Zealand
From Auckland’s buzzing suburbs to innovation hubs across the North and South Islands, the Indian community is now one of the fastest-growing and most dynamic migrant groups in New Zealand.
Over the past two decades, Indian New Zealanders have transformed from a small migrant workforce into a vibrant, educated, and highly skilled community shaping business, technology, healthcare, and culture.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India, India has the largest diaspora in the world, with nearly 35 million NRIs and PIOs living overseas. As per the same report, around 270,000 Indians (2.7 lakh) currently live in New Zealand.
Break-up of the Indian population in New Zealand
- Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) – 120,000 (1.2 Lakh)
- Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) – 150,000 (1.5 Lakh)
read about Population of Overseas Indians
Indians make up around 5% of New Zealand’s total population. The estimated Indian population in New Zealand in 2026 is ~3 lakh (300,000).
As per the 2018 New Zealand Census, the total Indian population was 239,193 (2.39 lakh).
Population distribution by region (Census pattern)
64.7% of Indian New Zealanders live in the Auckland region
26.3% live in the rest of the North Island
9.0% live in the South Island
Indians are one of the youngest and fastest-growing ethnic groups in the country.
Indian Population by Regions (Major Settlements)
While most migrants gravitate toward Auckland, the Indian community is now present across almost every region. Key Indian population centres include:
Auckland — 105,900
Wellington — 15,000
Waikato — 9,900
Bay of Plenty — 6,200
Canterbury — 6,100
Manawatū-Whanganui — 2,900
Hawke’s Bay — 2,100
In Auckland, 1 in every 10 residents is of Indian ethnicity, compared to 1 in 20 nationally.
Source: The Waitakere Indian Association & census-based estimates
Growth of the Indian Community in New Zealand
The Indian population has seen a dramatic rise:
2001: ~65,000 Indians
2018: ~240,000 Indians
Share of population grew from 1.7% → 5.1%
Indians today make up 34% of the Asian population in New Zealand (up from 26% in 2001).
Community profile highlights
The population is younger on average — largely in the 20–40 age group
78% (186,000) are of voting age
56% hold post-school qualifications (1.6× the national average)
72% of working-age Indians are employed (vs 65% national average)
Slightly lower entrepreneurship share — around 3.5% self-employed/employers
The community contributes strongly to healthcare, IT, engineering, education, retail, and professional services.
Why Indians Matter to New Zealand’s Future
Indian New Zealanders are:
powering skilled migration and workforce development
strengthening trade, technology, and innovation links with India
enriching New Zealand’s multicultural identity and social fabric
leading in academics, research, and professional sectors
From Diwali festivals in Auckland to Indian-origin professionals driving the tech economy, the community continues to play a key role in shaping modern New Zealand.
Religion of Indian population in New Zealand
Indians in New Zealand have diverse religious backgrounds & represented mainly by Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims, and Christians. Most early New Zealand Indians were of Punjabi or Gujarati descent. The religion of the Indian population in New Zealand is as follows
- Hindus – 46.6%
- Sikhs – 21.4%
- Christians -16%
- Islam – 8.7%
- Others – 8.1%