Scottish New Zealanders
 
|
|
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| (25,953 (by birth, 2013) 14,412 (by ancestry reported, 2013) |
|
| Regions with significant populations | |
| throughout New Zealand, but especially North Otago, Otago & Southland | |
| Languages | |
| New Zealand English (Southland burr), Scots, Scottish Gaelic | |
| Religion | |
| Roman Catholic, Protestantism (Presbyterianism, Anglicanism etc) | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Scottish people, European New Zealanders, Irish New Zealanders, Welsh New Zealanders |
Scottish New Zealanders are citizens of New Zealand who are of Scottish ethnic origin or heritage.
Scottish migration to New Zealand dates back to the earliest period of European colonisation, with a large proportion of Pākehā New Zealanders being of Scottish descent. However, identification as "British" or "European" New Zealanders can sometimes obscure their origin. Some Scottish New Zealanders also have Māori or other non-European ancestry. The majority of Scottish immigrants settled in the South Island. All over New Zealand, the Scots developed different means to bridge the old homeland and the new. Many Caledonian societies were formed, well over 100 by the early twentieth century, who helped maintain Scottish culture and traditions. From the 1860s, these societies organised annual Caledonian Games throughout New Zealand. The Games were sports meets that brought together Scottish settlers and the wider New Zealand public. In so doing, the Games gave Scots a path to cultural integration as Scottish New Zealanders.
In 2013, the number of New Zealanders born in Scotland was recorded as 25,953, making it the eighth most common place of birth. This can be contrasted with the mid-20th century, e.g. in 1956, when the figure was 46,401, making Scotland the second most common place of birth. However, these figures only include people born in Scotland, not those New Zealanders who claim a Scottish identity through their parents, grandparents, or even further back. In addition, many New Zealanders come from mixed origins, with Scottish New Zealanders co-identifying as Māori or another ethnic group. In 2006, 15,039 self-identified as Scottish.
The Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand notes that in many cases, the distinctive features of Scottish settlers were often wiped out in a generation or two, and replaced with a British identity which consisted mostly of English culture:
Today, if there can be said to be a "stronghold" of Scottish culture in New Zealand, it would be in the regions of Southland and Otago, although many of the place names around the Waikato Region also bear links with Scotland (notably the city of Hamilton and town of Huntly).
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Wikipedia