30 Oct 2012

Survey to pin down whanau size

7:55 pm on 30 October 2012

Government statisticians say they hope that a new survey will provide a good picture of the diversity and range of whanau in Maoridom.

The survey will next year ask 5000 Maori a range of questions about the health and happiness of their families.

As part of the new survey, Statistics New Zealand conducted a pilot study in which people said the size of their whanau ranges from one to 500 people.

Statistics NZ executive Atawhai Tibble says no assumptions can be made about the size of Maori families.