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Te Ngira: Institute for Population Research

Te Ngira: Institute for Population Research is Aotearoa’s only dedicated population research centre. Our name was inspired by a well-known tongikura (proverbial sayings made famous by Māori monarchs) from the first Māori King, Pootatau Te Wherowhero:

Kotahi te kōwhao o te ngira e kuhuna
ai te miro ma, te miro pango, te miro whero

There is but one eye of a needle,
through which white, black and red cotton are threaded

These words capture our team’s commitment to undertaking excellent and transformative population research that draws on multiple knowledges, disciplines and methodologies.

Our research is widely used by decision-makers in Te Ao Māori, government agencies, communities, and the private sector to help inform choices and responses to the demographic, social and economic interactions that are shaping Aotearoa’s future. Te Ngira also offers a unique research-led major in population studies and graduate degrees in population studies and demography. Our graduates are highly sought after for academic, Iwi, government and NGO research and leadership roles in Aotearoa and internationally.

Te Ngira researchers are internationally and locally recognised and work across the four inter-connected themes below:

Te Ngira in the News

Prof Polly Atotoa Carr on ‘Trust’ needed to boost Pacific engagement in census. More Pacific people have returned this year’s Census forms, but some say it could be better. Pacific Media Network. (29 June 2023)

Prof Polly Atotoa Carr on "“Growing Up in New Zealand has recently described the experience of frequent residential moves, housing quality, living in overcrowding and homelessness for approximately 5000 12 year old young people in Aotearoa". Radio Waatea. (26 June 2023)

Professor Tahu Kukutai on "Where is everyone? Ten percent still missing from the Census". Nine to Noon: RNZ. (6 June 2023)