French New Zealanders

French New Zealanders
Franco-Néo-Zélandais
Total population
7,677 (born in France, 2018)[1]
Regions with significant populations
Auckland
Wellington
Canterbury
Languages
New Zealand English · French
Religion
Christianity (mainly Roman Catholicism· Judaism
Related ethnic groups
French AustraliansFrench British

French New Zealanders are New Zealanders who are of French ancestors or a French-born person who resides in New Zealand.

The French were among the earlier European settlers in New Zealand, and established a colony at Akaroa in the South Island.[2]

Captain Jean-François-Marie de Surville is the first known Frenchman to have visited New Zealand,[3] in 1769, and by the 1830s, French whalers were operating off the Banks Peninsula.[3][4]

French missionaries and priests also had a significant effect on Catholicism in New Zealand. In 1835, Jean-Baptiste Pompallier was the first bishop of any denomination in New Zealand and was known to be sympathetic to Māori interests at the time.[5] Suzanne Aubert came to New Zealand from France in 1860, and founded the Sisters of Compassion in 1892, a religious order of nuns. The cause for her canonization is ongoing,[6] meaning she may become New Zealand's first saint.

Religion

Religion Percentage of the French population in New Zealand
Catholic 26.2%
Christian (not further defined) 3.9%
Anglican 3.0%
No religion 50.1%
Object to answering 7.1%

Source: 2013 Census[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ "2018 Census ethnic group summaries | Stats NZ". www.stats.govt.nz.
  2. ^ Taonga, New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu. "French settlements". teara.govt.nz. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  3. ^ a b Taonga, New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu. "Explorers and missionaries". teara.govt.nz. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  4. ^ "British proclaim sovereignty as French head for Akaroa". nzhistory.govt.nz. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  5. ^ "Jean Baptiste Pompallier | NZHistory, New Zealand history online". nzhistory.govt.nz. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  6. ^ "The Journey to Sainthood". compassion.org.nz. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  7. ^ 2013 Census ethnic group profiles: French

External links

  • Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand: French


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