Māori language information covers the Māori ethnic population.

Over a fifth of Māori can hold a conversation in te reo Māori

In 2013, 125,352 Māori (21.3 percent) could hold a conversation about a lot of everyday things in te reo Māori, a 4.8 percent decrease from the 2006 Census.

Of the Māori who could hold a conversation in te reo Māori in 2013:

• 26.3 percent were aged under 15 years – down 6.2 percent from 2006
• 23.3 percent were aged 15 to 29 years – down 8.2 percent
• 40.6 percent were aged 30 to 64 years – down 5.0 percent
• 9.8 percent were aged 65 years and over – up 11.0 percent.

One in five Māori speak more than one language

In 2013, 125,388 Māori (21.3 percent) spoke more than one language, a decrease of 4.9 percent from 2006. Of the Māori who spoke more than one language in 2013:

• 93.4 percent spoke two languages
• 6.6 percent spoke three or more languages.