nonMaori

Non-Māori is a demographic and cultural descriptor used primarily in New Zealand to refer to people who are not of Māori ethnicity. It is commonly employed in official statistics, policy discussions, and academic writing to distinguish the indigenous Māori population from all other residents who identify with various other ethnic backgrounds. The term functions as a broad category rather than as a single cultural group.

In New Zealand, Māori are the indigenous people of the country and make up roughly one-sixth of the population. The non-Māori category includes a wide range of ethnic identities, such as Europeans (often historically called Pākehā), as well as people who identify as Asian, Pacific peoples, or with multiple or other backgrounds. Because it aggregates many distinct groups, the term can obscure differences in culture, language, and experience within the non-Māori population.

Usage and context: In census data, health and social statistics, and policy analysis, “Māori” and “non-Māori” are used to present comparisons and track outcomes. The term is descriptive and not meant to imply a homogeneous group.

Critique and alternatives: Some critics argue that the binary Māori/non-Māori framing oversimplifies identity and can mask diversity within non-Māori communities or overlook nuanced cultural and historical aspects of Māori–non-Māori relations. In contexts requiring precision, more specific labels (for example, naming particular ethnic groups or using “European New Zealander,” “Asian New Zealander,” etc.) are preferred.

See also: Māori, Pākehā.