| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 1,965 [1] | |
| Languages | |
| Spanish, New Zealand English | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity, Irreligion |
A small but increasing number of Mexicans reside in New Zealand, with their population more than doubling from 2013 to 2018, reaching 1,425 individuals. Most Mexicans live in Auckland. Prior to the 1970s, a minimal number of Latin Americans migrated to New Zealand. However, stereotypes were apparent from the outset. A narrative from a mid-19th century sheep run in the South Island describes a ‘very hot-blooded’ Mexican laborer who occasionally required restraint, ‘to prevent him from “getting his knife into someone” literally rather than figuratively’. In 1874, there were fewer than approximately 80 Brazilians, Chileans, Mexicans, and Peruvians residing in New Zealand. The overall population of Latin Americans did not exceed 200 until after the conclusion of the First World War. [2]
