1881 New Zealand census

The Māori population was estimated as 44,097, with 41,601 of those living in the North Island.^[8] Census enumerators faced difficulties getting some Māori to cooperate with completion of the census. Some people were said to suspect that the forms were a government trick to take their land, or part of a plan to kill them.^[9] The nomadic nature of the people also caused some enumeration difficulties, and in some cases estimates had to be made.^[4] Although population numbers had gone up since the previous census, officers in many districts noted a general decrease in the number of Māori. This discrepancy was attributed to better enumeration.^[4] In particular, there was a continuing drop in the number of children being born.^[10] This was attributed to introduced diseases and vices such as smoking and drinking, as well as inadequate clothing. Another observation was that since the end of inter-tribal warfare, Māori had shifted their settlements from easy-to-defend hilltops, which had good sun and airflow, to swampy, damp areas.^[11] Officers noted that in more remote areas where there was less European influence, there were more healthy children, and also that Māori in European-dominated areas who had jobs and lived in European-style houses tended to be healthier.^[4]