The 1851 colony of New Zealand census was the first national population census held in the Crown colony of New Zealand. The day used for the census was Saturday 1 November 1851. The enumeration was left to the governments of New Ulster and New Munster, the two provinces into which the country was then divided and was ordered by the Census Ordinance of 1851. The census, which only surveyed European New Zealanders, revealed a population of 26,707.
Summary General census of 1851 December 1851. (Reports appeared in Auckland Provincial Government Gazettes, 1853 and 1854.)
Data availability The Blue Books were statistical information from New Zealand's early Colonial period (1840–1855). They have information about population, revenue, military, trade, shipping, public works, legislation, civil servants, foreign consuls, land transactions, churches, schools, and prisons.
Population and dwellings
Population counts for the New Zealand districts. The original six were Auckland, New Plymouth, Wellington, Nelson, Canterbury, and Otago, though in 1858 New Plymouth was renamed Taranaki.
Birthplace Population of New Zealand colony in 1851. Birthplace Population Percentage New Zealand - 12.3 Totals, Overseas-born - 87.7 England 13,485 50.5 Scotland – 12.7 Ireland – 16.5 Wales – 0.4 Totals, British Isles – 84.4 Other – 3.3 Colony of New Zealand 26,707 100.0
Religion Members of Christian denominations formed 93.35 per cent. of those who made answer to the inquiry at the census; non-Christian sects were 0.24 per cent.; whilst "other" religions constituted 6.41 per cent.Early New Zealand Books | 1851Religion in New Zealand Census data Denomination 1851 Census Number Percent (%) Christian 24,930 93.35 Church of England 14,179 53.09 Presbyterians 4,124 15.44 Methodists 2,755 10.31 Baptist 400 1.50 Totals, Protestants21,458 80.34 Roman; Catholic 3,472 13.00 Jews 65 0.24 Other specified religions 1,712 6.41 Totals, New Zealand 26,707 100.0
Numbers of livestock Showing the numbers of livestock in the possession of Europeans in the several settlements in 1851. Settlement Horses Mules and Asses Horned Cattle Sheep Goats Pigs Auckland 1,035 11 10,943 11,075 2,604 5,679 New Plymouth68 -1,395 2,700 83 1,165 Wellington (incl Hawkes Bay)788 28 11,407 64,009 2,654 3,135 Nelson 532 13 5,838 92,014 5,842 2,609 Canterbury224 7 2,043 28,416 356 1,255 Otago 243 1 3,161 34,829 582 2,371 Totals2,890 60 34,787233,043 12,12116,214
References