The Maori population is growing faster than the average national rate according to new figures released by Statistics New Zealand.
A spokesperson said that was due to Maori having high fertility rates and a large proportion being aged under 30.
The results were the first to be released from the 2013 Census, which showed New Zealand's population was growing at its fastest rate for over a decade and was estimated to be just over 4.5 million.
Within that, 692,000 people defined themselves as being Maori. Of those, 320,000 (54 percent) also identified with another ethnicity.
Statistics New Zealand senior demographer Kim Dunstan said the Maori population had increased by 1.5 percent a year since 2006.
Mr Dunstan said the Maori population's makeup, which was youthful, and the result of them having more children, was different to changes in the Asian population.
He said the increase in the latter's numbers was driven by migration and was outstripping Maori at 4.3 percent a year.
