Updated projections issued by Statistics NZ indicate New Zealand's Asian population will be almost as numerous as Maori in a decade and a half.
The projections examine population growth until 2026.
Statistics New Zealand forecasts that the Asian population will grow by 3.4% per year and expand from 400,000 to 790,000.
The Maori population will be only slightly higher at 810,000 after growing by 1.3% per year.
Pacific people will increase by 2.4% per year and reach 480,000.
The slowest growth rate will be among people labelled European, New Zealand or other in Census returns.
The growth rate for these people will be only 0.4% per year.
The statistics measure both birthrate and migration.
