Greeks in New Zealand
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| (Greek ethnic group 2,478 (March 2013)) |
|
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Wellington, Christchurch, Auckland | |
| Languages | |
| New Zealand English, Greek | |
| Religion | |
| Predominantly Greek Orthodox | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Greek Australians and other Greek diaspora groups |
Greek New Zealanders (Greek: Ελληνοζηλανδοί) refers to New Zealand citizens and residents who are of full or partial Greek descent, or were born in Greece and emigrated to New Zealand. Large concentrations of the community are to be found in Wellington, and to a lesser extent Christchurch and Auckland. Smaller communities of Greeks reside in Palmerston North, Wanganui, Dunedin, Hamilton and Napier.
Many Greek New Zealanders maintain their Greek identity through the observation of Greek customs and traditions, and their adherence to their Greek Orthodox (Christian) faith, whilst also assimilating into New Zealand society.
The number of people reporting their ethnicity as Greek in New Zealand was 2,478 in the March 2013 census.
The vast majority of the Greeks immigrating to New Zealand came from the western prefecture of Aetolia-Acarnania, the Ionian Sea islands of Ithaca and Kephalonia, and from the island of Lesbos which is located in the northeastern Aegean Sea. Smaller numbers have come from Macedonia, Epirus, Attica, the Peloponnese, Crete, Romania and Cyprus. Chain migration has been popular.
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