More adult children are living at home, according to the latest release of 2023 Census data by Stats NZ.

The new figures, released this week, offer a detailed look at how families and households across New Zealand—and here on the Hibiscus Coast—are changing.

In 2023, 34.5 percent of families with children had at least one adult child still living at home.

That figure rises to 38.7 percent for families with a Pacific background.

Stats NZ principal analyst Dr Rosemary Goodyear said the number of adult children living at home has risen sharply—up 27.3 percent since 2013.

“This may reflect increased cost-of-living pressures,” said Goodyear.

By comparison, the number of families with dependent children grew just 8.2 percent over the same period.

Locally, this may reflect what many Coasties already know—young adults are staying home longer as rent and living expenses rise.

The Census also found more male sole parents, up from 15.8 percent in 2013 to 17.8 percent in 2023.

However, men were less likely to be caring for very young children.

Just 8.9 percent of sole parents with a child under one were male.

That number rises to over 22 percent for families with teens aged 13 to 17.

In terms of household size and makeup, the data reveals New Zealand’s increasing ethnic diversity.

Nearly 80 percent of households had at least one person of European ethnicity in 2023, but that proportion is falling.

Meanwhile, the share of households with Māori, Pacific, and Asian ethnicities is rising.

Households with Pacific peoples had the largest average size at 4.0 people, followed by Māori and Asian households at 3.3 people.

European households averaged just 2.6 people and were more likely to be one- or two-person homes.

These shifts paint a clearer picture of who we live with and how family life is evolving—important insights that help inform future planning in health, housing, and education.

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