- Which ethnic group do we belong to? (Ethnicity)
This question asks the respondent to classify their ethnic group. It is subjective, and somewhat open to interpretation, particularly each person's understanding of the term "ethnicity". The 2006 Census asked people to consider an ethnic group as having:
- A shared culture, such as traditions, customs, beliefs or language
- A common ancestry or history
- A similar geographic, tribal or clan origin.
A total of 238 individual ethnicity responses are captured by the Census, but only the largest groups are shown in this topic in profile.id®.
'Not elsewhere included' includes the response 'Don’t know' as well as the non-responses 'Not Stated' and 'Unidentifiable'.
Note that ethnicity is a multiple response topic, so the total of all categories will be greater than the total population.
Please note that prior to 2006, the response "New Zealander" was included as a separate category, while in the 2006 Census, there is no separate category, but those who responded "New Zealander" are included as "Other ethnicity". For data comparability, the New Zealanders in the "Other" category for 2006 have been added to the "European" category, which should enable 2006 Census to be directly compared to earlier years.
- Are we of Maori descent? (Maori descent)
This dataset is sourced from the Census question 'Are you descended from a Maori (that is, did you have a Maori birth parent, grandparent or great-grandparent etc)?'
The wording of the Census question is taken to imply that there is no limit to how many generations a person may look back to identify Maori ancestry.
A person has Maori descent if they are of the Maori race of New Zealand; this includes any descendant of such a person. The term 'Maori descent' is based on a genealogical or biological concept, rather than on cultural affiliation to the Maori ethnic group. Information on cultural affiliations, or ethnicity, is collected in the census question on ethnic group. It is important to view this question in conjunction with the question about Ethnicity as some people who have Maori ancestry may not identify themselves ethnically as Maori. There is no reason to expect the populations stating Maori ethnicity to equate to those stating Maori descent in this question.
Maori in this context are inclusive of New Zealand Maori, but Cook Island Maori people are not included.
'Not Elsewhere included' primarily includes people who did not answer this Census question, or provided an answer which was unintelligible.
There are no time series issues with this dataset between 1996, 2001 and 2006.
- Where were we born? (Country of birth)
Respondents to country of birth were asked in all Census years to provide the present name of the country. In some cases this is difficult, especially with former Yugoslavian nations. Overall, the effect is minor, however.
The term "country" is defined to include:
- Independent nations recognised by the New Zealand Government.
- Units which are recognised geographic areas;
- Administrative subdivisions of the United Kingdom, and;
- Overseas dependencies, external territories of independent countries
The 'United Kingdom' includes England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, and 'United Kingdom not further defined'.
'Former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia' includes Serbia and Montenegro, as well as 'South Eastern Europe nfd' in 2006. Those people categorised to South Eastern Europe in 2006 were primarily those who stated their birthplace as Yugoslavia, which did not exist as a nation in 2006. In 2001 it is comparable with "Federal Republic of Yugoslavia" and has been presented in time series with this category in that year. The category is not available for 1996 and 1991 due to considerable changes to national boundaries in this region.
'Total Overseas born' includes 'inadequately described' and 'at sea'.
'China (people's republic of) ' excludes the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.
Birthplace is coded using the Standard Country or Area Codes for Statistical Use.
- How many recently arrived? (Year of arrival)
Year of arrival is collected on the Census form, and aggregated into ranges for this topic.
It includes that population who were born overseas and were resident in New Zealand at Census time.
People who did not state their country of birth are excluded.
- What languages do we speak? (Language)
Language is a multi-response question which records all languages which a person can speak and understand (including sign language). It does not include reading and writing a particular language.
A total of 194 different languages are recorded in the Census. The data presented in profile.id® are the top 10 language responses for the selected area, in addition to English and Maori.
There are no known changes to the language classification between 1996 and 2006. In 2001 and 2006, a reminder was added to the Census question that respondents should tick "English" if they are able to hold a conversation in English. This may have increased the response rate for English slightly compared to that recorded in 1996.
As language is a multiple response question, the total number of responses will sum to greater than the total population, and therefore the percentages shown on the table add to more than 100%. The official language and combination language indicators at the bottom of the table are not multi-response and do sum to the population total.
'Semitic not further defined' includes speakers of Arabic, as well as Ethiopian, Berber and Oromo.
- What is our religion? (Religious affiliation)
Religion is coded using the New Zealand standard religious classification.
Please note that religion is an optional question on the Census form and respondents have the right to object to answering.
Religion is a multiple-response question, however, due to the very low rate of multiple responses (3.4% of the population nominated more than one religion), it has been treated as a single response question. The table total represents total responses, and will be slightly higher than the total population. This total has been used for the calculation of percentages. For the subtotals "Christian" and "Non Christian" it is technically possible for a respondent to appear in both these categories. However, it is considered that the multiple-response rate is low enough that the value of having these aggregates in the table outweighs any possible misinterpretations.
The response 'No religion' is exclusive of any other response.
- What are our household sources of income? (Sources of income)
Sources of income includes all sources which individuals in the household have identified as having received income from in the 12 months ended March in the Census year.
Sources of income is a multiple response question, and as most households have income from more than one source, the sum of all responses is likely to be significantly in excess of the total population. Percentages are calculated from the total population, so percentages will add to well over 100% in most cases.
'Superannuation, Pensions, Annuities' includes the categories 'NZ Superannuation or Veterans Pension' and 'Other Super., Pensions, Annuities'.
'Government Benefits and Payments' includes 'Sickness Benefit', 'Domestic Purposes Benefit', 'Invalids Benefit' and 'Other Govt Benefits, Payments or Pension'.
- What are our qualifications? (Highest qualification)
Presents data on the highest educational qualification an individual has achieved. It combines school, non-school and tertiary qualifications into a single classification.
A qualification is defined as 'a formally recognised award for attainment resulting from a full time learning course of at least three months, or from part-time study for an equivalent period of time or from on-the-job training'. A qualification must be awarded by a secondary school or official educational institution (as defined by the Education Act).
Qualifications data are applicable to people over the age of 15 who are New Zealand residents.
'Higher Degree' includes 'Masters Degree', 'Doctorate Degree' and 'Post-Graduate and Honours Degree'.
- In what fields are we qualified? (Fields of qualification)
Presents data on the main broad field of study of the highest educational qualification an individual has received.
Unlike level of qualification information, field of study relates only to post-school (tertiary) qualifications. Those without a tertiary qualification are included as "No Post-School Qualification".
Qualifications data are applicable to people over the age of 15 who are New Zealand residents.
- 2006 industry categories (Industry)
This dataset describes the industries in which employed people work. It applies only to people aged 15 and over who were employed in the week prior to Census.
Data for industry are coded using the Australia and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC). The industry classification is updated periodically to take account of emerging industries and changes in the structure of the economy.
For the 2006 Census, the updated ANZSIC06 classification was used, which includes more industry divisions which better reflect the structure of the New Zealand and Australian economies. Data are presented using this classification in the first tab. For time series, data are also presented on the older ANZSIC96 version of the classification, which was current for the 1996 and 2001 Censuses. See 'Time Series Industry Categories'.
For more information, please refer to the ANZSIC 2006 classification.
- Time series industry categories (Industry time series)
This dataset describes the industries in which employed people work. It applies only to people aged 15 and over who were employed in the week prior to Census.
Data for industry are coded using the Australia and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC). The industry classification is updated periodically to take account of emerging industries and changes in the structure of the economy.
For the 2006 Census, the updated ANZSIC06 classification was used, but people were also coded to the older ANZSIC96 version of the classification. Data in the profiles are presented using both classifications; data for 2006 alone uses ANZSIC06, while time series data uses ANZSIC96 for comparability.
For more information, please refer to the ANZSIC 2006 classification.
- 2006 occupation categories (Occupation)
This data describes the occupations of employed people. It applies only to people aged 15 and over who were employed in the week prior to Census.
Data for occupation are coded using the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO). The occupation classification is updated periodically to take account of emerging occupation groups and changes to the structure of the labour force.
Data are presented for the broad occupation groupings. For 2006 these were coded using ANZSCO, the most recent classification. These are presented in profile.id® where no time series is required (on the first tab). For time series, the data are presented using the older ASCO 2nd edition classification, to ensure data comparability. See 'Time Series Occupation Categories'.
For more information please refer to the ANZSCO classification.
- Time series occupation categories (Occupation time series)
This dataset describes the occupations of employed people. It applies only to people aged 15 and over who were employed in the week prior to Census.
The occupation classification is updated periodically to take account of emerging occupation groups and changes to the structure of the labour force.
Data for occupation in 2006 were dual-coded using the new Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO), and the older NZSCO99 classification, which was valid for the 2001 Census. The 1996 Census used NZSCO95, which was broadly comparable at the major group level to NZSCO99 and is presented here.
Data are presented for the broad occupation groupings, using the NZSCO99 to allow comparisons with the 2001 and 1996 Census.
The comparability of the 2006 data with 1996 and 2001 data at the most detailed level has been affected by a problem with the automatic allocation of codes during processing. Time series analysis shows inconsistencies as a result of this problem.
- What type of households do we live in? (Families and households)
These data describe the type of family and non-family households within a dwelling.
The first section of the table counts family units in family households, and breaks them down by the presence of couples, single parents, and dependent and adult children. This classification of a family includes persons who are temporarily absent from the family on Census night.
The second section counts households. Households can contain up to three families, or a sole person, group of unrelated individuals (flatmates etc.) or other household.
The 'Non-classifiable household' category includes all those households where not enough information was provided on the Census form to identify the composition of that household.
'Couple with dependent children' and 'One parent family with dependent children' includes all families with children under the age of 18 years who were not employed full time.
'Couple with adult children only' and 'One parent family with adult children only' includes all families with no dependent children, but with children aged over 18 present, or children under 18 and in full time employment.
'Related individuals, non-family' includes all households of individuals who are related but do not form a couple or parent-child relationship. Eg. brother-sister, uncle-nephew etc.
Dataset includes same sex couple families.
As the data are counting households, only enumerated counts are applicable. Households where all members were absent on Census night are excluded from the count because their dwellings are unoccupied.
- How many people live in each household? (Household size)
This dataset counts households by the number of persons usually resident, (including residents who were temporarily absent on Census night).
A household is defined as either one person who usually resides alone or two or more people who usually reside together and share facilities (such as eating facilities, cooking facilities, bathroom and toilet facilities, a living area etc).
This dataset excludes 'Visitor only' households, and visitors to private dwellings who do not normally live there.
- Are we owners, renters or buyers? (Housing tenure)
This data presents the tenure type of occupied private dwellings, and for those dwellings being rented, provides a breakdown of the type of landlord the dwelling is being rented from.
The dataset is derived from six Census questions in 2006 and four Census questions in 2001.
'Owned without a mortgage' includes dwellings which are owned by their occupants, who do not make mortgage repayments.
'Owned with a mortgage' includes dwellings which are owned by their occupants, who make mortgage repayments.
There are issues with the comparability of 2001 and 1996 data with 2006 data, due to the treatment of dwellings in family trusts. This information was not collected in 2001 and prior Censuses. The inclusion of family trusts in the 'other tenure' category is intended to alleviate this problem as it is not possible to separately identify these dwellings prior to 2006.
'Rented – from a local/central government" refers to households renting from a government housing authority such as the Housing New Zealand Corporation, otherwise known as public housing.
'Rented – from private sector' refers to households renting from private landlords, real estate agents and employers.
'Rented – from unknown sector' refers to rented dwellings where the landlord type was not stated.
'Not elsewhere included' includes "Unidentifiable", "Outside Scope" and "Not Stated".
- What telecommunications services do we have? (Telecommunications access)
This dataset measures whether a household has 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. This requires the device to be in working order and for there to be a working connection.
All households in occupied private dwellings are included, except for visitor only households.
In 2001, no data were collected on access to cellular/mobile phones, so these data are only available for 2006.
In 1996, no information was collected on access to cellphones, the internet or fax machines, so only telephone access is comparable between 1996 and 2006.
Access to telecommunications is a multiple-response variable, so the total number of responses is normally considerably in excess of the total population. Percentages are calculated from the total population and will add to greater than 100%.
- How many cars do we own? (Car availability)
'Number of motor vehicles' is 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 residents of private dwellings.
Motor vehicles include:
- cars, station wagons, vans, trucks, four-wheel-drive vehicles and other vehicles used on public roads;
- business vehicles available for private use by people in the dwelling;
- vehicles hired or leased, and;
- vehicles temporarily under repair.
They do not include:
- motorbikes or scooters;
- vehicles used only for business;
- farm vehicles not licensed for road use;
- vehicles that belong to visitors, and;
- vehicles occasionally borrowed from another household.
Visitor only households are excluded from this topic.
- What type of dwellings do we live in? (Dwelling type)
Dwelling structure looks at the type of dwelling for all occupied private dwellings. In 2001 and 2006, this was classified according to responses on the form by the household, while in 1996, it was classified by the Census collector. The categories are broadly based on the density and height of the housing types.
'Separate house' includes all free-standing dwellings not physically joined to any other.
'Medium Density' in 2006 includes 'Two or More Flats/Units/Townhouses/Apartments/Houses joined together in a one storey, two or three storey building', as well as the same category with no storey information. These categories include all dwellings joined to at least one other. In 2001 and 1996, this category includes all flats/units or townhouses joined together in a 1 or 2 storey building, but does not include 3 storey buildings. It also includes flats attached to shops or businesses.
'High density' in 2006 includes all dwellings joined together in a four or more storey block. In 2001 and 1996 it includes three storey buildings and higher. As a result of this definitional change, care should be taken when looking at the medium and high density categories separately over time, particularly where medium-sized apartment blocks are known to exist.
'Other dwelling' includes caravans, mobile homes, improvised dwellings or shelters and people sleeping rough.
Unoccupied dwellings are shown separately in the table, broken down by the reason for unoccupancy. This was a separate question on the form, answered by the Census collector. Further information on this classification is on the Statistics New Zealand website.
- How many bedrooms do our dwellings have? (Number of bedrooms)
This dataset counts dwellings by the number of rooms used as bedrooms in each.
Bedsits and studios, where the living area is also a bedroom, are counted as having one bedroom.
The number of bedrooms counts caravans adjacent to the dwelling if they are used as bedrooms.
There are no comparability issues between 1996 and 2006.