| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 1,278 (2018 Census)[1] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Auckland andWellington | |
| Languages | |
| Arabic (Lebanese Arabic),English (New Zealand English) | |
| Religion | |
| Majority:Christian:Maronite Catholic,Greek Orthodox,Greek Catholic,ProtestantMinority:Islam:Shia Islam,Sunni Islam,Alawite,Jewish andDruze | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Lebanese British,Lebanese Americans,Lebanese Canadians,Lebanese Australians |
| Part ofa series of articles on |
| Lebanese people |
|---|
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Communities Native communities outside of Lebanon: Europe Overseas
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 Lebanon portal |
Lebanese New Zealanders refers to citizens or permanent residents ofNew Zealand of Lebanese ancestry. The community is diverse, having a largeChristian religious base, being mostlyMaronite Catholics andGreek Orthodox, while also having a smallMuslim group of both theShia andSunni branches ofIslam.
Lebanon, in both its modern-day form as the Lebanese state (declared in 1920, granted independence in 1943) and its historical form as the region of the Lebanon, has been a source of migrants to New Zealand for over two centuries. According to 2018 census, 1,278 Lebanese-descent people in New Zealand, with most of all people with Lebanese ancestry living inAuckland Region (46.0 percent), followed by theWellington Region (21.8 percent), and theOtago Region (8.5 percent).[1] Furthermore, 71.4 percent were born in New Zealand, up from 68.4 percent in 2013.[1]
As part of a large scale emigration in the 1840s, numerous Lebanese (mostlyChristians) migrated in great numbers out ofLebanon to various destinations. Most emigrated toBrazil and otherLatin American nations, particularlyArgentina,Venezuela,Colombia andEcuador. Many also went to theUnited States,Canada, theUnited Kingdom, or theUnited Arab Emirates and others toAustralia andNew Zealand.[2]
Thus, New Zealand's Lebanese population is one of the older established non-English speaking minorities in the country (though many Lebanese people now speak English, to a greater or lesser extent).
In the 1890s, there were increasing numbers of Lebanese immigrants to New Zealand, part of the mass emigration from the area of the Lebanon that would become the modern Lebanese state, and also from theAnti-Lebanon Mountains region of the border area withSyria.
Some Lebanese people had settled inAuckland as early as 1890. The Lebanese blended into the community and attended local churches. Their language ability and entrepreneurial skills, along with a sense of belonging, gave them the confidence to integrate without losing their tradition and culture connection.[3]
Early Lebanese settlerAssid Abraham Corban and his family were instrumental in introducing commercial winemaking to New Zealand. The Corban family migrated toWest Auckland fromDhour El Choueir in 1892, establishingCorbans Wines atHenderson in 1902.[4]
In New Zealand, 53.8% of Lebanese areChristian, while a minority (6.6%) areMuslim.[1] 31.0 percent said they had no religion.[1]
All main Lebanese religious groups — Christians, includingMaronites,Greek Orthodox,Melkites,Protestants, Muslims, includingShi'a andSunnis denominations;Druze, amongst others — are now represented.
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