| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 2,550[1] – 100,000 (est.)[2] | |
| Languages | |
| New Zealand English, Croatian | |
| Religion | |
| predominantly Roman Catholic |
| Part of a series on |
| Croats |
|---|
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Croatian New Zealanders refers to New Zealand citizens of Croatian descent. It is estimated that over 100,000 New Zealanders have Croatian ancestry.[2] There are 2,550 people who declared their nationality as Croats in the 2006 New Zealand census.[1] The majority of these are located primarily in and around Auckland and Northland with small numbers in and around Canterbury and Southland.[3]
The (generally neutral but sometimes mildly derogatory) term Dally or Dallie (short for Dalmatian) was often used in New Zealand to refer to people of Croatian descent before Croatia gained independence in 1991.[4] Most people of Croatian descent are now referred to as Croatians, reflecting Croatia’s independence. The Dalmatian Cultural Society, founded in 1930 and based in Auckland, adopted Dalmatian in its name upon Croatia’s independence. Other Croatian cultural societies in New Zealand, including those in Auckland, Waikato, and Wellington, have recognized "Croatian" as the appropriate name to reflect the country's independence. A further neutral term, Tarara (literally, "fast talkers"), is used to refer to people of mixed Croatian–Māori heritage.[5]
- ^ a b Walrond, Carl (8 February 2005). "Dalmatians – Page 7. Facts & figures". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
- ^ a b "Carter: NZ Celebrates 150 Years Of Kiwi-Croatian Culture". Voxy. Digital Advance Limited. July 30, 2008. Archived from the original on 2019-12-31. Retrieved 2012-03-20.
- ^ Jelicich, Stephen (2008). From distant villages: the lives and times of Croatian settlers in New Zealand, 1858-1958. Auckland: Pharos Publications. ISBN 9780473130299.
- ^ Barton, Warren (6 December 2010). "Saluting Selaks: Let's drink to the 'Dallies'". The Southland Times. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 2018-06-27.
- ^ Walrond, Carl (1 March 2015). "Dalmatians – Page 6. Dalmatian culture". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 20 June 2020.