AOTEAROA IN 20: Our country and its people in 2020

AOTEAROA in 2O

Our country and its people in 2020

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In 2020, Aotearoa New Zealand is home to a vibrant mix of people.

For better or worse, we’re not the same group of people as we were 50 years ago. Or five years ago. Or even, five months ago.

Each one of us has a unique story about what brought us to this moment in our nation’s life.

Aotearoa in 20 shares the stories of a representative sample of Kiwis.

We have analysed population data held by Statistics NZ and come up with the profiles of 20 people who represent the nation as a whole. Stuff reporters have found Kiwis who fit those profiles and who had a story about themselves they were willing to share.

Aotearoa in 20 has been deliberately published prior to the election, and two referendums, on October 17.

The stories of our people should help inform how we vote. New Zealanders share the nation with each other. The Government we choose impacts not only ourselves and our families, but everyone else who lives here, too.

This is who we are: Aotearoa in 20.

RACHEL
PATTEMORE

A solo mother of three,
Aucklander Rachel Pattemore
has a story of struggle and pride.

A solo mother of three, Aucklander Rachel Pattemore has a story of struggle and pride.

Over time, more of us have congregated in cities and towns.

Now, 84 per cent live in an urban centre.

Four out of five people are in urban centres.

JEREMY
ROBERTSON

Jeremy Robertson was raised
on a Southland sheep and
beef farm. He has ambitions
to join the police force
and solve murders.

Jeremy Robertson was raised on a Southland sheep and beef farm. He has ambitions to join the police force and solve murders.

We’ve also become much more diverse.

Asian New Zealanders and Pacific people make up a growing portion of the population.

New Zealand will continue to grow in diversity.

KOKO TAO

Koko Tao misses China’s night
markets and ever-changing
cuisine, but she likes the kindness
of New Zealanders, the country’s
emphasis on family, and the
luxury of a house and garden.

Koko Tao misses China’s night markets and ever-changing cuisine, but she likes the kindness of New Zealanders, the country’s emphasis on family, and the luxury of a house and garden.

This change will continue - and accelerate - in the coming decades.

RACHEL AFEAKI-
TAUMOEPEAU

A move, four kids, work, and
losing a parent – it all came in
the first 10 years of Rachel
Afeaki-Taumoepeau’s marriage.

A move, four kids, work, and losing a parent – it all came in the first 10 years of Rachel Afeaki-Taumoepeau’s marriage.

New Zealanders now have fewer children, later in life.

Outside of periods of economic downturn, migration is the main driver of population growth.

MALKIAT
SINGH

From engineer, to software developer,
to project manager, to immigration
advisor to organic farmer, the Sikh
religion has driven Malkiat Singh’s
lifelong love of learning.

From engineer, to software developer, to project manager, to immigration advisor to organic farmer, the Sikh religion has driven Malkiat Singh’s lifelong love of learning.

In education, Māori and Pacific people are about half as likely as New Zealand Europeans to achieve a diploma-level qualification, or higher.

The median income of Māori and Pacific people is 10 per cent lower than nationally.

For New Zealanders with a Middle Eastern, Latin American or African background, it’s closer to 20 per cent lower.

A pay gap between men and women also persists across every ethnicity.

ZAHEDA
DAVIES

Zaheda Davies managed
to escape a life of abuse
in Russia after getting
married against her
parents’ wishes.

Zaheda Davies managed to escape a life of abuse in Russia after getting married against her parents’ wishes.

There is also a 38 per cent gap between the employment rate of disabled and able-bodied people.

MAURICE
FLYNN

After a rocky time in high school
and living off the false perception
that life would come easy because
he was disabled, Maurice Flynn
faced the reality he needed
to make it on his own.

After a rocky time in high school and living off the false perception that life would come easy because he was disabled, Maurice Flynn faced the reality he needed to make it on his own.

There are differences in how we work too.

RUE-JADE
MORGAN

The trajectory of Rue-Jade
Morgan’s life seemed set until
he embraced his Māori culture
and turned his life around.

The trajectory of Rue-Jade Morgan ’s life seemed set until he embraced his Māori culture and turned his life around.

For many years, life expectancy in New Zealand has increased.

But health outcomes are very different for different groups of New Zealanders.

Geography has an impact. People who live on the West Coast of the South Island have much higher death rates from cancer than people who live in nearby South Canterbury.

This is who we are: Aotearoa in 20.

RACHELPATTEMORE

A solo mother of three,Aucklander Rachel Pattemorehas a story of struggle and pride.

Over time, more of us have congregated in cities and towns.

Now, 84 per cent live in an urban centre.

JEREMYROBERTSON

Jeremy Robertson was raisedon a Southland sheep andbeef farm. He has ambitionsto join the police forceand solve murders.

We’ve also become much more diverse.

Asian New Zealanders and Pacific people make up a growing portion of the population.

KOKO TAO

Koko Tao misses China’s nightmarkets and ever-changingcuisine, but she likes the kindnessof New Zealanders, the country’semphasis on family, and theluxury of a house and garden.

This change will continue - and accelerate - in the coming decades.

RACHEL AFEAKI-TAUMOEPEAU

A move, four kids, work, andlosing a parent – it all came inthe first 10 years of RachelAfeaki-Taumoepeau’s marriage.

New Zealanders now have fewer children, later in life.

Outside of periods of economic downturn, migration is the main driver of population growth.

MALKIATSINGH

From engineer, to software developer,to project manager, to immigrationadvisor to organic farmer, the Sikhreligion has driven Malkiat Singh’slifelong love of learning.

In education, Māori and Pacific people are about half as likely as New Zealand Europeans to achieve a diploma-level qualification, or higher.

The median income of Māori and Pacific people is 10 per cent lower than nationally.

For New Zealanders with a Middle Eastern, Latin American or African background, it’s closer to 20 per cent lower.

A pay gap between men and women also persists across every ethnicity.

ZAHEDADAVIES

Zaheda Davies managedto escape a life of abusein Russia after gettingmarried against herparents’ wishes.

There is also a 38 per cent gap between the employment rate of disabled and able-bodied people.

MAURICEFLYNN

After a rocky time in high schooland living off the false perceptionthat life would come easy becausehe was disabled, Maurice Flynnfaced the reality he neededto make it on his own.

There are differences in how we work too.

RUE-JADEMORGAN

The trajectory of Rue-JadeMorgan’s life seemed set untilhe embraced his Māori cultureand turned his life around.

For many years, life expectancy in New Zealand has increased.

But health outcomes are very different for different groups of New Zealanders.

Geography has an impact. People who live on the West Coast of the South Island have much higher death rates from cancer than people who live in nearby South Canterbury.

And again, ethnicity matters.

Considering all causes of mortality, Māori have a fatality rate that’s 83 per cent higher than the rest of the population.

Māori are three times more likely to be killed by diabetes, and two-and-a-half times more likely to die from lung cancer.

All adult New Zealanders have the right to vote. But not everyone exercises that right.

ALEX KER

After years of feelingdisconnected from hisbody, Alex Ker realised hewas transgender when talkingto a teacher at high school.

BARBARAHENLEY

Catholic nun BarbaraHenley has kept herpromises for overfive decades.

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