The Asia New Zealand Foundation (ANZF) report - Diverse Auckland: The Face of New Zealand in the 21st Century _ shows the way immigration from Asian countries is impacting on Auckland and, ultimately, on New Zealand.
It was prepared by University of Auckland senior lecturer Dr Wardlow Friesen of the School of Geography, Geology and Environmental Science.
The report said China and Korea were likely to remain key sources of migrants, even though tougher English-language requirements have reduced flows of people from these countries.
But the prevalence of English in the education systems of countries such as India and Sri Lanka and parts of Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines meant immigration from many of these countries was increasing.
It said Auckland would continue to absorb a "disproportionate share of this growth'', with an estimated growth of about 51% for the Asian population up to 2016, compared with 46% for New Zealand as a whole.
ANZF research director Dr Andrew Butcher said the report confirmed the importance of Asia and Asians to the future of New Zealand.
"The way Auckland is shaped will, in every respect, be influenced by its Asian communities. This will become true nationally as well.
"Our national identity will inevitably draw on New Zealand's place in the Asia-Pacific and the populations of that region in New Zealand,'' Dr Butcher said.
"If we look at the Auckland of today, we see the New Zealand of tomorrow. How Auckland responds to its growing Asian populations will serve as either a positive or a negative example to the rest of the country.
"Auckland has a remarkable and historic opportunity to engage with the Asian region through its growing Asian populations and, if done well, can lead the rest of New Zealand.''
The report said an increased Asian population changed our national identity.
It said the definition of "a New Zealander'' was becoming more complex and multi-layered.
It said over time an increasing part of the Asian population would identify as Asian as well as having European, Maori, Pacific and other ethnic identities as a result of intermarriage.
The report followed calls last week from New Zealand First that the door should be shut on Asian immigrants after Statistics New Zealand said New Zealand's Asian population was expected to grow faster than any other.
Government statistician Geoff Bascand said the four main ethnic populations - Maori, Pacific, Asian and European - would all increase but those who identify themselves as Asian would grow the most.
A projected increase of 3.4% a year would take the Asian population from 400,000 in 2006 to 790,000 by 2026.
NZ First deputy leader Peter Brown said there was a danger Asian "mini-societies'' were being built in New Zealand.
He said the folly of New Zealand's "open door'' immigration policies was reflected in the latest population projections.
"The matter is serious. If we continue this open door policy there is real danger we will be inundated with people who have no intention of integrating into our society. The greater the number, the greater the risk".
Ethnic Affairs Minister Chris Carter and Alasdair Thompson, chief executive of the Employers and Manufacturers Association, dismissed Mr Brown's comments as being racist.
