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It's no secret that Auckland (the largest city in New Zealand) is a diverse city full of different cultures and new research has shown exactly how it and the rest of the country are changing.

More than 200 ethnic (ÖÖ×åµÄ) groups are recorded as living here and Auckland is considered to have a wider variety of cultural groups than London or Sydney, with 40 percent of its population made up of different ethnicities.

The changing make­up of the country's population is featured in the latest NZ Geographic magazine, which focuses on ethnic diversity, age, wealth and attitudes, drawn from the latest census (ÈË¿ÚÆÕ²é) figures.

Massey University humanities and social sciences research director Professor Paul Spoonley said Auckland's multiculturalism today is way beyond what experts believed likely a few years ago.

Asian communities, in particular, in New Zealand have almost doubled since 2001, when 6. 6 percent of the Kiwi people(New Zealanders) were Asian. The proportion (±ÈÀý) in Auckland was 14.6 percent. By 2006, 18.9 percent of the citizens in the city were Asian and today 23 percent identify themselves as Asian.

Nationally, the census showed 11.8 percent of the population was Asian£­and that figure was increasing.

“The figures are higher than I would have thought a few years back£¬” Mr. Spoonley said. “And the healthcare system is attracting Asian workers.”

The article also showed that Kiwis had overall become more accepting of migrant communities and particularly of Asian peoples. That had been a hugely noticeable change, Mr. Spoonley said.

An Asian community leader Kai Luey in Auckland said there were a number of things that attracted Asians to New Zealand and particularly to Auckland. “The environment is clean, there's fresh air and there's safety of food...There's a good education system here in New Zealand...”

New Zealand was also considered to be a much safer place than many other countries, such as America, Canada and Australia.

1£®What change has taken place in Auckland?

A£®It has been developing at a higher speed.

B£®It has started to control its population.

C£®It has begun to value ethnic cultures.

D£®It has become a more diverse city.

2£®What is the proportion of Asians in Auckland now?

A£®About one­tenth.  B£®Below one­fifth.

C£®Nearly one­fourth.  D£®More than two­fifths.

3£®Why do many Asians migrate to New Zealand according to Spoonley?

A£®They need a better education.

B£®They want to live in a safe place.

C£®They love the clean environment.

D£®They hope to get better healthcare.

4£®What do most New Zealanders think of Asian migrants?

A£®They are part of the society.

B£®They are a small ethnic group.

C£®They are very likely to change.

D£®They are a threat to the country.