4.1.1 Population structure
Table 4.1.1
Quality level of population structure topics
| Topic |
Quality level |
| Marital/relationship status |
Defining |
| Number of children born |
Supplementary |
Marital/relationship status
Changes to this topic include updated classification category codes and descriptors, and naming terminology and definitions, which will be used for the 2011 Census.
Statistics NZ investigated public understanding of civil unions during census questionnaire development. This was in response to the civil union data from the 2006 Census not being fit-for-use due to significant data quality issues. The investigation has led to a change in the wording of the legal marital / relationship status question, living arrangements question, and the census guide notes, to improve respondent understanding. Updates were also made to the questionnaire to reflect real world changes that were included as part of the classifications and standard review. These questionnaire changes will be tested in the 2010 Census Dress Rehearsal.
Legally registered relationship status is a person’s status with respect to their relationship, which has been registered according to the laws or customs of the country in which they entered into that relationship. People in New Zealand can enter into two types of legally registered relationships: marriage and civil union. Partnership status is a person’s status with respect to their current relationship. Marital/relationship status data from the census is used: - to provide valuable information on how society is structured, allowing the analysis and understanding of family size and changes in family structures. This information contributes to our understanding of present and future society
- in a variety of planning and monitoring activities, including the estimation of the future demand for central government and local body services, the development of housing and welfare systems
- to contribute to some demographic time series, such as fertility rates (nuptial and ex-nuptial) and family formation rates.
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Note: Questions 19 and 23 on the 2006 Census Individual Form relate to marital/relationship status.
Number of children born
The minimal content change strategy and the outcome of the consultation process have resulted in this topic being retained for the 2011 Census.
In the 2011 Census Content: Consultation guide, Statistics NZ proposed the exclusion of this topic from the 2011 Census. Number of children born has been a cyclical topic and was last included in the 2006 Census. A 10-yearly cycle of inclusion was thought sufficient for user needs.
However, users and Statistics NZ’s Population Statistics Unit made a very strong case for retaining this topic in the 2011 Census. It was noted that there is a very important transition period in fertility and childlessness occurring now. To have to wait until the 2016 Census means taking the risk of not having evidential data for some key demographic changes that are currently taking place.
Number of children born refers to the number of children born alive to each female aged 15 years and over usually residing in New Zealand. Foetal deaths and stillborn children are not included. Stepchildren, adopted children, foster children, and wards of the state are also not included. Number of children born data from the census is used: - to help build accurate models of the population structure and changes to it to inform research and policy
- in combination with other census variables to provide valuable insights into the different population profiles between groups and small areas in New Zealand
- to provide information on changes in the population age structure, the changing dynamics of family and family size, childlessness, comparisons between subgroups, differences in fertility between ethnic groups, age groups, and other key variables and as an indicator of women's roles over time.
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Note: Question 25 on the 2006 Census Individual Form relates to number of children born.
4.1.2 Income
Table 4.1.2
Quality level of income topics
| Topic |
Quality level |
| Total personal income |
Defining |
Total personal income
The development of the statistical standard for income bands has been completed, and an updated classification will be used in the 2011 Census.
The new classification will allow the addition of a higher income band beyond the current top category ($100,001 and over) to capture income data between $100,001 and $150,000 and above $150,001.
In addition, the current $50,001–$70,000 income band will be split into two separate income bands ($50,001–$60,000 and $60,001–$70,000) to allow for more detailed statistics.
Due to space constraints, it was thought initially that the addition of these two extra income bands would require the aggregation of bands at the lower level. During consultation, however, users expressed strong opposition to this aggregation and therefore, no changes will be made to these categories ($1–5,000 and $5,001–$10,000). Space constraints have been managed by altering the typesetting of other messages on the form.
Total personal income data, collected in the census using income bands, is used to derive total household income, total family income, total extended family income, and combined parental income for couples with children. Income bands are a convenient way of collecting income information when income is not the prime focus of a survey. Bands reduce respondent burden by providing a simple way to obtain contextual information about income. Income bands are often tabulated with other variables such as age, occupation, and education qualifications to provide information on the relationship between these variables and the income distribution of the population. Income band statistics are used: - to formulate social and economic policy and monitoring programmes
- by the Ministry of Education in determining decile rankings for schools receiving government funding
- in developing the New Zealand deprivation index
- for research and planning by central and local government agencies.
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Note: Question 31 on the 2006 Census Individual Form relates to total personal income.
4.1.3 Health
Table 4.1.3
Quality level of income top
| Topic |
Quality level |
| Cigarette smoking |
Supplementary |
Cigarette smoking
The minimal content change strategy and the outcome of the consultation process have resulted in this topic being retained for the 2011 Census.
Statistics NZ proposed the exclusion of this topic from the 2011 Census. However, the submissions process showed there was considerable support from data users to include it in the 2011 Census, as smoking remains the major cause of preventable disease in New Zealand.
Cigarette smoking refers to the active smoking of one or more manufactured or hand-rolled tobacco cigarettes per day. Data on smoking prevalence is used by those working in the health sector. Census data on current and ex-smokers is used to: - monitor changes in smoking prevalence among the adult population of New Zealand
- understand the profile of smokers, to better target at-risk groups in the community with future health education programmes
- target health education programmes and evaluate the success of these
- monitor changes in smoking prevalence among high-risk groups in New Zealand
- examine the inter-relationships between smoking and other socio-economic variables and how these change over time.
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Note: Questions 21 and 22 on the 2006 Census Individual Form relate to cigarette smoking.
4.1.4 Housing
Table 4.1.4
Quality level of housing topics
| Topic |
Quality level |
| Access to telecommuication systems |
Supplementary |
| Fuel types used to heat dwelling |
Supplementary |
| Number of motor vehicles |
Supplementary |
Access to telecommunication systems
There will be no change to the access to telecommunication systems topic for the 2011 Census.
The submissions process showed there is still support for collecting data on fax access. This data will continue to be collected in the 2011 Census. Other submissions indicated an interest in expanding the topic to include collecting data on the type of Internet access (broadband or dial-up) and digital television. However, it is expected that the need to distinguish between broadband and dial-up access will become less relevant by 2011.
Information on broadband and dial-up access can be obtained from the Household Use of Information and Communication Technology Survey, although it is acknowledged that this data may not meet some users' needs due to the limited amount of regional information available. The census is not considered to be the best place to collect data on digital television as the information would not be available quickly enough and does not fit the purpose of the census.
No additional telecommunications categories will be included in the 2011 Census, so the scope of this topic will remain the same as in 2006.
Access to telecommunication systems measures household access to a cellphone/mobile phone (that is in the dwelling all or most of the time), a telephone, a fax and/or the Internet, to communicate with people outside the dwelling and to use services provided through these media. The device needs to be in working order and have a working connection. Data from the census on access to telecommunication systems is used: - to provide an indication of living standards
- in developing the New Zealand deprivation index
- as an indicator of respondents' ability to obtain access to services such as social and health care in an emergency
- to monitor the use of different types of telecommunications
- to evaluate the methods used for collecting survey data and contacting respondents, and assess the coverage and bias of telephone surveys.
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Note: Question 17 on the 2006 Census Dwelling Form relates to Access to telecommunication systems.
Fuel types used to heat dwelling
There will be no change to the fuel types used to heat dwelling topic for the 2011 Census. Separate categories for mains gas and bottled gas will be retained for the 2011 Census. Submissions received in the consultation process indicated the importance of distinguishing between ‘mains gas’ and ‘bottled gas’. Further consideration of the way in which respondents interpret the mains gas and bottled gas categories indicates that they are consistent with the definitions used and meet quality requirements.
Some submissions supported the collection of more detailed information and expanding the scope of the topic to include fuel costs and the form of technology and equipment used (eg home ventilation systems). However, the census is not the best method to collect this information.
Fuel type used to heat dwelling measures the type of fuel used to heat an occupied private dwelling. More than one fuel type may be used to heat the dwelling. Examples of fuel types are electricity, gas, coal, and wood. Insulation is not a fuel type. Data from the census on fuel types used to heat dwelling is used: - to forecast energy requirements and plan distribution
- to monitor trends in energy efficiency and conservation
- to analyse resource management issues relating to air quality
- as an indicator of the habitability of housing
- in developing the New Zealand deprivation index.
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Note: Question 16 on the 2006 Census Dwelling Form relates to fuel types used to heat dwelling.
Number of motor vehicles
Information on which vehicles to count has been added into the questionnaire guide notes to help respondents answer the question and improve data quality. The submissions process showed there is interest in expanding the topic to include frequency of use, main reason for use, distance travelled, and other forms of transport, such as bicycles. However, it may be difficult for the census to obtain good quality data on distance travelled, frequency of use, and main reason for use. Collection of this information is better suited to a specialist transport survey. Information on the number of bicycles that households have is already available from the New Zealand Travel Survey.
Number of motor vehicles refers to the number of motor vehicles that are mechanically operational, but not necessarily licensed or having a current warrant of fitness, and are available for private use by the usual residents of private dwellings. Number of motor vehicles data from the census is used: - by local government and transport planners to plan transport services
- to assist in the location of public transport services, commercial, and welfare facilities
- to study energy conservation
- in developing the New Zealand deprivation index.
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Note: Question 18 on the 2006 Census Dwelling Form relates to number of motor vehicles.