Low-income households

Regional differences

Note: This data is not comparable with the national data presented on the other pages relating to this indicator.(1)

The proportion of young people living in low-income households varies significantly across different territorial authorities. 

In 2006, the proportion of youth living in low-income households was highest in Dunedin City, a city with a large student population.  In Dunedin City 37.2 percent of youth aged 15 to 24 were living in low income households, compared to just 6 percent in Queenstown-Lakes District.

Proportion of 15 to 24 year olds living in low-income households by territorial authority, 2006
Territorial Authority Proportion (%)
Far North District 24.2
Whangarei District 15.8
Kaipara District 16.6
Rodney District 9.4
North Shore City 14.1
Waitakere City 13.5
Auckland City 21.4
Manukau City 15.7
Papakura District 12.3
Franklin District 8.8
Thames-Coromandel District 16.7
Hauraki District 16.9
Waikato District 13
Matamata-Piako District 10.4
Hamilton City 21.5
Waipa District 10.2
Otorohanga District 13.3
South Waikato District 19.3
Waitomo District 17.2
Taupo District 11.9
Western Bay of Plenty District 14.7
Tauranga City 14.4
Rotorua District 17.3
Whakatane District 17.5
Kawerau District 26.3
Opotiki District 33.3
Gisborne District 21.5
Wairoa District 22.6
Hastings District 15.6
Napier City 14.9
Central Hawke's Bay District 15.4
New Plymouth District 14.2
Stratford District 12.4
South Taranaki District 14.8
Ruapehu District 21.2
Wanganui District 21.4
Rangitikei District 15.1
Manawatu District 13
Palmerston North City 24
Tararua District 15.6
Horowhenua District 21.8
Kapiti Coast District 13.6
Porirua City 13.6
Upper Hutt City 10.1
Hutt City 12.2
Wellington City 18.5
Masterton District 16
Carterton District 15.3
South Wairarapa District 18
Tasman District 13.1
Nelson City 15.1
Marlborough District 10.7
Kaikoura District 12.8
Buller District 18.1
Grey District 14.7
Westland District 15.2
Hurunui District 15.3
Waimakariri District 9.8
Christchurch City 19.8
Selwyn District 9.2
Ashburton District 8.8
Timaru District 15.2
Mackenzie District 11.6
Waimate District 18.5
Chatham Islands 15.4
Waitaki District 13.4
Central Otago District 9.4
Queenstown-Lakes District 6.1
Dunedin City 37.2
Clutha District 10.7
Southland District 11
Gore District 13.4
Invercargill City 16.7

Source: Derived from Statistics New Zealand's Census by the Ministry of Social Development. Median income benchmarked at 1998 and adjusted forward and back using the Consumer Price Index.

Notes

1. The definition of a “low income household” for regional data is a household with gross (before-tax) real income less than 60percent of the median national household income, benchmarked at 2001, adjusted for inflation and equivalised for household size and composition.  This provides a useful comparison between regions but is not comparable with the data presented at national level.