← Demographics Top suburb Newtown SouthWELLINGTON Leading count 444 % of population 12.4% Source Stats NZ Census 2023
Top NZ Suburbs by MELAA Population
New Zealand suburbs with the highest number of MELAA residents, ranked by count from Stats NZ Census 2023.
Ranking
Top NZ Suburbs by MELAA Population
New Zealand suburbs with the highest number of MELAA residents, ranked by count from Stats NZ Census 2023.
100 results
How to read this ranking
Use top nz suburbs by melaa population to find concentration, not overall quality.
BEST FOR
Spotting where an ethnic community is most concentrated.
This list works best when you want to understand where a particular ethnic group has the largest visible footprint.
READ IT AS
A multi-response count first, not a recommendation.
Stats NZ ethnicity is multi-response, so a suburb’s shares can sum above 100%. High counts reflect scale and concentration, not affordability, schools, safety, or investment quality.
NEXT STEP
Open the suburb pages before making a decision.
Use the ranking to find candidate suburbs, then confirm rent levels, incomes, schools, transport, and deprivation context on the suburb pages.
AVAILABLE evidence
Census concentration signal
This ranking is backed by demographic counts. It is good for finding clusters, not for deciding suburb quality alone.
CLUSTER SCREEN
This ranking finds concentration, not suburb quality.
Use top rows as research leads, then test affordability, services, and evidence depth before shortlisting.
Shortlist flow
Use #1 Newtown South and #2 Frankton as the first compare pair.
Rankings are strongest when they hand you a shortlist quickly. Compare the top two first, then open suburb detail if the head-to-head result still feels narrow.
Distribution
100 suburbs · midpoint ≈ 159
Leader: Newtown South · 444
- #1Newtown SouthWELLINGTON44412.4%
- #2FranktonOTAGO41111.7%
- #3Shotover CountryOTAGO3819.9%
- #4Unsworth Heights WestAUCKLAND32112.2%
- #5Strathmore (Wellington City)WELLINGTON3188.5%
- #6WaterviewAUCKLAND3157.7%
- #7Mount Cook NorthWELLINGTON29710.0%
- #8Mount Roskill Central SouthAUCKLAND26110.6%
- #9Unsworth Heights EastAUCKLAND2556.9%
- #10BerhamporeWELLINGTON2496.7%
- #11Hobsonville Point ParkAUCKLAND2404.3%
- #12Parnell WestAUCKLAND2315.1%
- #13Sunshine Bay-FernhillOTAGO2196.9%
- #14Eden TerraceAUCKLAND2166.8%
- #15Symonds Street WestAUCKLAND2106.6%
- #16Wesley WestAUCKLAND2077.6%
- #17Anzac AvenueAUCKLAND2016.8%
- #18FaringdonCANTERBURY2013.6%
- #19Warren ParkOTAGO20114.8%
- #20Glen Innes East-Wai O Taiki BayAUCKLAND1923.8%
- #21Avondale Rosebank (Auckland)AUCKLAND1924.7%
- #22Ōwairaka WestAUCKLAND1926.4%
- #23Mount Albert NorthAUCKLAND1894.6%
- #24Birkdale SouthAUCKLAND1895.2%
- #25AlfristonAUCKLAND1864.7%
- #26Jacks PointOTAGO1835.1%
- #27Mount Roskill NorthAUCKLAND1804.8%
- #28Glenfield South WestAUCKLAND1774.6%
- #29GlenavonAUCKLAND1775.9%
- #30Saint Johns EastAUCKLAND1776.4%
- #31Victoria ParkAUCKLAND1775.7%
- #32Fairview HeightsAUCKLAND1744.2%
- #33Glenfield CentralAUCKLAND1744.2%
- #34Mount Roskill North EastAUCKLAND1748.1%
- #35Symonds Street North WestAUCKLAND1746.0%
- #36Riccarton WestCANTERBURY1744.7%
- #37Albany HeightsAUCKLAND1714.1%
- #38Mount Roskill South EastAUCKLAND1715.3%
- #39Lake Hayes EstateOTAGO1716.6%
- #40GreensboroWAIKATO1714.2%
- #41Avondale South (Auckland)AUCKLAND1683.7%
- #42Frankton ArmOTAGO1689.1%
- #43Takapuna WestAUCKLAND1654.8%
- #44Miramar SouthWELLINGTON1654.9%
- #45Mount Roskill Central NorthAUCKLAND1625.2%
- #46Avondale West (Auckland)AUCKLAND1624.1%
- #47New Windsor EastAUCKLAND1626.6%
- #48Hobson Ridge NorthAUCKLAND1627.0%
- #49Hamilton EastWAIKATO1624.1%
- #50Te ManatuWAIKATO1623.8%
- #51Queen Street South WestAUCKLAND1597.9%
- #52Royal Heights SouthAUCKLAND1534.1%
- #53Randwick Park EastAUCKLAND1536.2%
- #54RedcastleAUCKLAND1536.2%
- #55Hobson Ridge CentralAUCKLAND1535.8%
- #56Mount Maunganui NorthBAY-OF-PLENTY1534.8%
- #57BaverstockAUCKLAND1503.6%
- #58Bayview East (Auckland)AUCKLAND1504.0%
- #59HaurakiAUCKLAND1503.4%
- #60Greenlane SouthAUCKLAND1504.0%
- #61Newtown WestWELLINGTON1504.4%
- #62West Harbour WestAUCKLAND1473.5%
- #63Saint Heliers SouthAUCKLAND1473.7%
- #64Totara Vale SouthAUCKLAND1474.2%
- #65PeachgroveWAIKATO1474.1%
- #66Kilbirnie EastWELLINGTON1477.0%
- #67Glen Eden NorthAUCKLAND1445.4%
- #68Glen Innes WestAUCKLAND1443.4%
- #69Hobsonville Point Catalina BayAUCKLAND1444.1%
- #70Glenfield WestAUCKLAND1444.7%
- #71Sunnyvale West-Parrs ParkAUCKLAND1445.3%
- #72Oteha EastAUCKLAND1444.7%
- #73New Lynn Central SouthAUCKLAND1444.3%
- #74Rolleston South EastCANTERBURY1442.5%
- #75Freemans BayAUCKLAND1414.1%
- #76Rānui DomainAUCKLAND1413.9%
- #77Onehunga NorthAUCKLAND1413.7%
- #78Riccarton SouthCANTERBURY1414.0%
- #79SwansonAUCKLAND1383.7%
- #80Albany SouthAUCKLAND1384.1%
- #81Parnell EastAUCKLAND1384.2%
- #82Remuera Abbotts ParkAUCKLAND1383.7%
- #83Totara Vale NorthAUCKLAND1384.7%
- #84Christchurch Central-EastCANTERBURY1384.9%
- #85SurfdaleAUCKLAND1356.6%
- #86Mission Heights NorthAUCKLAND1354.0%
- #87New Lynn SeabrookAUCKLAND1354.6%
- #88Meadowbank EastAUCKLAND1355.2%
- #89Hobson Ridge SouthAUCKLAND1358.6%
- #90Symonds Street EastAUCKLAND1356.1%
- #91Mount Maunganui SouthBAY-OF-PLENTY1354.7%
- #92Newlands SouthWELLINGTON1355.5%
- #93Schnapper RockAUCKLAND1323.4%
- #94Glen Eden CentralAUCKLAND1323.7%
- #95Quay Street-Customs StreetAUCKLAND1326.7%
- #96Browns Bay South WestAUCKLAND1323.2%
- #97Avondale Central (Auckland)AUCKLAND1324.7%
- #98Forrest Hill EastAUCKLAND1323.7%
- #99ArmoyAUCKLAND1325.6%
- #100Royal Heights NorthAUCKLAND1293.1%
| # ▲ | SUBURB | REGION | COUNT | % OF POP | POP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newtown South | WELLINGTON | 444 | 12.4% | 3,588 |
| 2 | Frankton | OTAGO | 411 | 11.7% | 3,498 |
| 3 | Shotover Country | OTAGO | 381 | 9.9% | 3,837 |
| 4 | Unsworth Heights West | AUCKLAND | 321 | 12.2% | 2,631 |
| 5 | Strathmore (Wellington City) | WELLINGTON | 318 | 8.5% | 3,744 |
| 6 | Waterview | AUCKLAND | 315 | 7.7% | 4,077 |
| 7 | Mount Cook North | WELLINGTON | 297 | 10.0% | 2,964 |
| 8 | Mount Roskill Central South | AUCKLAND | 261 | 10.6% | 2,454 |
| 9 | Unsworth Heights East | AUCKLAND | 255 | 6.9% | 3,714 |
| 10 | Berhampore | WELLINGTON | 249 | 6.7% | 3,693 |
| 11 | Hobsonville Point Park | AUCKLAND | 240 | 4.3% | 5,562 |
| 12 | Parnell West | AUCKLAND | 231 | 5.1% | 4,509 |
| 13 | Sunshine Bay-Fernhill | OTAGO | 219 | 6.9% | 3,153 |
| 14 | Eden Terrace | AUCKLAND | 216 | 6.8% | 3,186 |
| 15 | Symonds Street West | AUCKLAND | 210 | 6.6% | 3,162 |
| 16 | Wesley West | AUCKLAND | 207 | 7.6% | 2,706 |
| 17 | Anzac Avenue | AUCKLAND | 201 | 6.8% | 2,976 |
| 18 | Faringdon | CANTERBURY | 201 | 3.6% | 5,553 |
| 19 | Warren Park | OTAGO | 201 | 14.8% | 1,356 |
| 20 | Glen Innes East-Wai O Taiki Bay | AUCKLAND | 192 | 3.8% | 4,992 |
| 21 | Avondale Rosebank (Auckland) | AUCKLAND | 192 | 4.7% | 4,071 |
| 22 | Ōwairaka West | AUCKLAND | 192 | 6.4% | 3,015 |
| 23 | Mount Albert North | AUCKLAND | 189 | 4.6% | 4,143 |
| 24 | Birkdale South | AUCKLAND | 189 | 5.2% | 3,660 |
| 25 | Alfriston | AUCKLAND | 186 | 4.7% | 3,975 |
| 26 | Jacks Point | OTAGO | 183 | 5.1% | 3,555 |
| 27 | Mount Roskill North | AUCKLAND | 180 | 4.8% | 3,729 |
| 28 | Glenfield South West | AUCKLAND | 177 | 4.6% | 3,837 |
| 29 | Glenavon | AUCKLAND | 177 | 5.9% | 2,976 |
| 30 | Saint Johns East | AUCKLAND | 177 | 6.4% | 2,787 |
| 31 | Victoria Park | AUCKLAND | 177 | 5.7% | 3,099 |
| 32 | Fairview Heights | AUCKLAND | 174 | 4.2% | 4,152 |
| 33 | Glenfield Central | AUCKLAND | 174 | 4.2% | 4,119 |
| 34 | Mount Roskill North East | AUCKLAND | 174 | 8.1% | 2,160 |
| 35 | Symonds Street North West | AUCKLAND | 174 | 6.0% | 2,907 |
| 36 | Riccarton West | CANTERBURY | 174 | 4.7% | 3,675 |
| 37 | Albany Heights | AUCKLAND | 171 | 4.1% | 4,194 |
| 38 | Mount Roskill South East | AUCKLAND | 171 | 5.3% | 3,234 |
| 39 | Lake Hayes Estate | OTAGO | 171 | 6.6% | 2,586 |
| 40 | Greensboro | WAIKATO | 171 | 4.2% | 4,098 |
| 41 | Avondale South (Auckland) | AUCKLAND | 168 | 3.7% | 4,494 |
| 42 | Frankton Arm | OTAGO | 168 | 9.1% | 1,845 |
| 43 | Takapuna West | AUCKLAND | 165 | 4.8% | 3,420 |
| 44 | Miramar South | WELLINGTON | 165 | 4.9% | 3,381 |
| 45 | Mount Roskill Central North | AUCKLAND | 162 | 5.2% | 3,090 |
| 46 | Avondale West (Auckland) | AUCKLAND | 162 | 4.1% | 3,954 |
| 47 | New Windsor East | AUCKLAND | 162 | 6.6% | 2,448 |
| 48 | Hobson Ridge North | AUCKLAND | 162 | 7.0% | 2,304 |
| 49 | Hamilton East | WAIKATO | 162 | 4.1% | 3,981 |
| 50 | Te Manatu | WAIKATO | 162 | 3.8% | 4,296 |
| 51 | Queen Street South West | AUCKLAND | 159 | 7.9% | 2,004 |
| 52 | Royal Heights South | AUCKLAND | 153 | 4.1% | 3,750 |
| 53 | Randwick Park East | AUCKLAND | 153 | 6.2% | 2,475 |
| 54 | Redcastle | AUCKLAND | 153 | 6.2% | 2,469 |
| 55 | Hobson Ridge Central | AUCKLAND | 153 | 5.8% | 2,616 |
| 56 | Mount Maunganui North | BAY-OF-PLENTY | 153 | 4.8% | 3,204 |
| 57 | Baverstock | AUCKLAND | 150 | 3.6% | 4,185 |
| 58 | Bayview East (Auckland) | AUCKLAND | 150 | 4.0% | 3,732 |
| 59 | Hauraki | AUCKLAND | 150 | 3.4% | 4,371 |
| 60 | Greenlane South | AUCKLAND | 150 | 4.0% | 3,741 |
| 61 | Newtown West | WELLINGTON | 150 | 4.4% | 3,372 |
| 62 | West Harbour West | AUCKLAND | 147 | 3.5% | 4,230 |
| 63 | Saint Heliers South | AUCKLAND | 147 | 3.7% | 4,002 |
| 64 | Totara Vale South | AUCKLAND | 147 | 4.2% | 3,471 |
| 65 | Peachgrove | WAIKATO | 147 | 4.1% | 3,618 |
| 66 | Kilbirnie East | WELLINGTON | 147 | 7.0% | 2,088 |
| 67 | Glen Eden North | AUCKLAND | 144 | 5.4% | 2,673 |
| 68 | Glen Innes West | AUCKLAND | 144 | 3.4% | 4,284 |
| 69 | Hobsonville Point Catalina Bay | AUCKLAND | 144 | 4.1% | 3,483 |
| 70 | Glenfield West | AUCKLAND | 144 | 4.7% | 3,036 |
| 71 | Sunnyvale West-Parrs Park | AUCKLAND | 144 | 5.3% | 2,724 |
| 72 | Oteha East | AUCKLAND | 144 | 4.7% | 3,090 |
| 73 | New Lynn Central South | AUCKLAND | 144 | 4.3% | 3,312 |
| 74 | Rolleston South East | CANTERBURY | 144 | 2.5% | 5,697 |
| 75 | Freemans Bay | AUCKLAND | 141 | 4.1% | 3,441 |
| 76 | Rānui Domain | AUCKLAND | 141 | 3.9% | 3,588 |
| 77 | Onehunga North | AUCKLAND | 141 | 3.7% | 3,771 |
| 78 | Riccarton South | CANTERBURY | 141 | 4.0% | 3,555 |
| 79 | Swanson | AUCKLAND | 138 | 3.7% | 3,696 |
| 80 | Albany South | AUCKLAND | 138 | 4.1% | 3,375 |
| 81 | Parnell East | AUCKLAND | 138 | 4.2% | 3,276 |
| 82 | Remuera Abbotts Park | AUCKLAND | 138 | 3.7% | 3,732 |
| 83 | Totara Vale North | AUCKLAND | 138 | 4.7% | 2,964 |
| 84 | Christchurch Central-East | CANTERBURY | 138 | 4.9% | 2,814 |
| 85 | Surfdale | AUCKLAND | 135 | 6.6% | 2,058 |
| 86 | Mission Heights North | AUCKLAND | 135 | 4.0% | 3,336 |
| 87 | New Lynn Seabrook | AUCKLAND | 135 | 4.6% | 2,931 |
| 88 | Meadowbank East | AUCKLAND | 135 | 5.2% | 2,607 |
| 89 | Hobson Ridge South | AUCKLAND | 135 | 8.6% | 1,563 |
| 90 | Symonds Street East | AUCKLAND | 135 | 6.1% | 2,208 |
| 91 | Mount Maunganui South | BAY-OF-PLENTY | 135 | 4.7% | 2,844 |
| 92 | Newlands South | WELLINGTON | 135 | 5.5% | 2,451 |
| 93 | Schnapper Rock | AUCKLAND | 132 | 3.4% | 3,867 |
| 94 | Glen Eden Central | AUCKLAND | 132 | 3.7% | 3,612 |
| 95 | Quay Street-Customs Street | AUCKLAND | 132 | 6.7% | 1,962 |
| 96 | Browns Bay South West | AUCKLAND | 132 | 3.2% | 4,143 |
| 97 | Avondale Central (Auckland) | AUCKLAND | 132 | 4.7% | 2,817 |
| 98 | Forrest Hill East | AUCKLAND | 132 | 3.7% | 3,528 |
| 99 | Armoy | AUCKLAND | 132 | 5.6% | 2,343 |
| 100 | Royal Heights North | AUCKLAND | 129 | 3.1% | 4,116 |
FAQ
About this MELAA ranking.
-
How is this MELAA ranking built?
It ranks New Zealand suburbs (Stats NZ SA2 areas) by the number of residents identifying with MELAA ethnicity in the 2023 Census, ordered by count. Each row also shows the figure as a share of the suburb population.
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Why can the ethnicity shares add up to more than 100%?
Stats NZ ethnicity is multi-response — a person can identify with more than one ethnicity — so the combined shares for a suburb can exceed 100%. The count still reflects how many people identified with this group.
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Does a high ranking mean a suburb is a good place to buy?
No. This is a demographic concentration screen, not a property recommendation. Use it to find where a community is largest, then open the suburb page to weigh rent, income, schools, transport, and deprivation context.
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What is the next step after this ranking?
Open a suburb detail page for a fuller read, save candidates to the shortlist, or compare two suburbs once you have a realistic pair.