Europeans in Oceania

Oceania

European exploration and settlement of Oceania began in the 16th century, starting with Spanish landings and shipwrecks in the Marianas Islands, east of the Philippines. Subsequent rivalry between European colonial powers, trade opportunities and Christian missions drove further European exploration and eventual settlement. The British became the dominant colonial power in the region, establishing settler colonies in what would become Australia and New Zealand, both of which now have majority European-descended populations. New Caledonia (Caldoche),^[1] Hawaii,^[2] French Polynesia,^[3] Norfolk Island, Easter Island and Guam^[4] also have significant European populations. Europeans remain a primary ethnic group in much of Oceania, both numerically and economically.

European settlement of Australia and New Zealand

Historical map of Australia and New Zealand 1788-1911

European settlement in Australia began in 1788 when the British established the Crown Colony of New South Wales with the first settlement at Port Jackson. New Zealand was part of New South Wales until 1840 when it became a separate colony and experienced a marked increase in European settlement.

While the largest European ethnic group to originally settle in both Australia and New Zealand were the English, the settler population in Australia from early times contained a large Irish Catholic component, in contrast to New Zealand which was more Scottish in composition.

For generations, the vast majority of both colonial-era settlers and post-independence immigrants to Australia and New Zealand came almost exclusively from the British Isles. However, waves of European immigrants were later drawn from a broader range of countries. Australia, in particular, received large numbers of European immigrants from countries such as Italy, Greece, Germany, the Netherlands, and Yugoslavia following the Second World War.

Current European population in Oceania

The total population of people that have European ancestry in Oceania is over 23,600,000, with the inclusion of the population of Hawaii.

•  Australia (European Australian) - 93.2% of the population or 20,299,000 people based on 2011 census report.
•  New Zealand (New Zealand European) - 74.0% of the population or 2,969,400 people.^[5]
•  New Caledonia (Caldoche) - 29.2% of the population or about 71,700; the territory is part of France.^[6]
•  French Polynesia - 10% of the population (mostly French) or 26,700, and 6-8% are Euronesian (Polynesian and European ancestry).^[7]
•  Hawaii - 24.1% of the population (2010 U.S. Census)^[8]
•  Guam - 10% of the population have Spanish and European American ancestry (2000 Census) or about 17,800 people. Guam has a history of Spanish settlement before 1900 and is now under US rule.^[9]
•  Norfolk Island, about 50% British-Polynesian from Pitcairn Island (1,070 people) and 50% British ancestry mainly via Australia (1,070 people).
•  Easter Island, about 39% have European ancestry (mostly Spanish). The island is part of Chile.

The dominant European group of Australia are referred to as Anglo-Celtic Australians (although this does not include non-British Europeans); the proper term for Australians of European ancestry is European Australian. In New Zealand, the census gathers information on ethnicity, not ancestry. It shows the majority of the New Zealand population identify as New Zealand European. The term Pākehā used in some previous Censuses has a similar meaning.

See also

• Greater Europe
• History of Australia
• History of New Zealand
• History of the Pacific Islands
• Settler colonialism
• European Australian
• History of Oceania

References