Survey background
The Household Use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Survey measures New Zealand households and individuals that have access to, and use of, computers, the Internet and mobile phones.
The survey produces official statistics on New Zealand household access and use of ICT and is used to gain a better understanding of how these technologies are influencing New Zealand's economy and society.
Data collection
The Household Use of ICT Survey: 2006 was a supplement to the Household Labour Force Survey (HLFS) during the December 2006 quarter. The supplement was asked of all households and people eligible to take part in the HLFS. Two questionnaires were used. A household ICT questionnaire asked about that household’s access to computers and to the Internet. An individual ICT questionnaire was then asked of all eligible individuals within the HLFS sample. Proxy responses were not accepted for the ICT questionnaires.
The survey was carried out from 8 October 2006 to 6 January 2007 (the December 2006 quarter) via personal and telephone interviews.
Target population
The target population for the Household Use of ICT Survey is the same as the HLFS target population. This is the civilian, usually resident, non-institutionalised population aged 15 years and over. This means that the statistics in this release do not cover long-term residents of homes for older people, hospitals and psychiatric institutions; inmates of penal institutions; members of the permanent armed forces; members of the non-New Zealand armed forces; overseas diplomats; overseas visitors who expect to be resident in New Zealand for less than 12 months; and those aged under 15 years.
The target population for the household portion of the survey is all households from the scope outlined above with at least one eligible individual.
The HLFS sample contains about 15,000 private households and about 30,000 individuals each quarter. Households are sampled on a statistically representative basis from rural and urban areas throughout New Zealand, and information is obtained for each member of the household.
Response rate
The target response rate for the Household Use of ICT Survey 2006 was 75 percent. The achieved response rate for households was 94 percent of those households which completed the HLFS (13,757 households). The achieved rate for individuals was 89 percent, or 24,855 of those individuals who completed the HLFS personal questionnaire.
Non-response and imputation
Unit non-response
Unit (or complete) non-response occurs when units in the sample do not complete a questionnaire. The initial selection weight of the remaining units was adjusted to account for the unit non-response.
Item non-response
Item (or partial) non-response is when units complete the questionnaire but some questions are not complete (eg refused). Item non-response imputation was carried out for the questions that required derivations of household data – including personal mobile phone use and personal income.
Imputation methodology
Nearest neighbour imputation was used to impute answers for unanswered categorical questions.
Measurement errors
Statistics New Zealand endeavours to minimise the impact of measurement errors through the application of best survey practices and monitoring of known indicators (eg non-response). However, the Household Use of ICT Survey results are subject to measurement errors, including both non-sample and sample errors. These errors should be considered when analysing the results from the survey.
Sample errors
Sampling error can be measured, and quantifies the variability that occurs by chance because a sample rather than an entire population is surveyed.
Sampling errors are calculated for each cell in the published tables. For example, the estimated total number of households with access to the Internet in the December 2006 quarter was 1,011,000. This estimate is subject to a sampling error of plus or minus 15,000 or 1 percent (measured at the 95 percent confidence level). This means that we can be 95 percent confident that the true number of households with access to the Internet lies between 996,000 and 1,026,000.
Smaller estimates, such as the total number of rural centre households with access to the Internet in the December 2006 quarter (20,000), are subject to larger relative sampling errors than larger estimates. This estimate is subject to a sampling error of plus or minus 7,000 or 8 percent (measured at the 95 percent confidence level). This means that we are 95 percent confident that the true value of rural centre households with access to the Internet lies between 13,000 and 27,000.
In general, the sampling errors associated with subnational estimates (eg breakdowns by regional council area) are larger than those associated with national estimates.
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Non-sampling errors
Non-sampling errors are all errors that are not sampling error. It is present in both sample surveys and censuses. It can not be directly numerically measured. There are many potential sources of non-sampling error.
Statistics NZ adopts procedures to minimise these types of error, but they may still occur and are not quantifiable. Non-sampling errors include unintentional mistakes by respondents when completing questionnaires, variation in the respondents’ and interviewers’ interpretation of the questions asked, and errors made during the processing of the data. In addition, the survey applied imputation methodologies to cope with non-respondents.
Given the nature of the data collected, there are limitations on the level of accuracy that can be expected from the survey. Even though detailed descriptions of technical terms was given, there may still be differences in respondent and interviewer interpretation.
Rounding
Due to rounding procedures, table totals may differ from the sum of individual cells. All counts have been rounded to the nearest thousand.
Comparisons with 2006 Census data
Due to a number of factors, some data outputs (such as household Internet access) that were produced from New Zealand's 2006 Census of Population and Dwellings differ from comparative outputs that were produced by the Household Use of ICT Survey: 2006. Further information is available on request.
Definitions
Broadband
Broadband is a high-speed connection to the Internet and is also referred to as non-analogue. For the purposes of the Household use of ICT questionnaires, broadband was self-identified by the respondent, and then the specific connection technology type was requested, eg DSL, cable.
Cable
A broadband transmission technology using coaxial cable or fibre-optic lines that were first used for TV and are now being used for Internet access. Includes fibre optic, ethernet, coaxial, and hybrid fibre coaxial.
Dial-up
Dial-up access is a way of connecting a computer to the Internet using a modem and the telephone line.
DSL
Digital subscriber line (DSL) is a type of high-speed broadband Internet connection that transmits data over regular copper wires (phone line). DSL allows for simultaneous voice and data transmission.
Information and communication technology (ICT)
This refers to the electronic technologies for collecting, processing or transmitting information which can be in the form of voice, images or data. Examples include computers, the Internet, and telecommunications.
Online purchase
Those purchases which are paid for online eg by credit card or web based Internet transaction systems. This does not include online banking, or when the payment for the purchase is made by cash or cheque.
Personal use of a mobile phone
The phone need not be owned or paid for by the person but should be reasonably available through work or family. Excludes occasional use, for instance, borrowing a mobile phone to make a call.
Regional council areas
Regional council areas are defined at meshblock and area unit level. Regional councils cover every territorial authority in New Zealand with the exception of the Chatham Islands Territory. The seaward boundary of the regions is the 12–mile (19.3km) New Zealand territorial limit. Generally regional council areas contain complete territorial authorities. Where territorial authorities straddle regional council boundaries, the affected area has been statistically defined in complete area units. There are 16 regional council areas in New Zealand. To allow publication of smaller areas, these categories have been combined into 12 regions for this release.
Sharing files via peer to peer exchanges
Directly accessing other computers’ files through Internet networks, and software programs.
Urban and rural areas
All urban areas
Statistically defined areas with no administrative or legal basis. There is a three-part hierarchical sub-division of urban areas. The urban population is defined internationally as towns with 1,000 people or more.
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Main urban area
Very large urban area centred on a city or major urban centre. Main urban areas have a minimum population of 30,000.
Secondary urban area
Urban area with a population between 10,000 and 29,999 and centred on the larger regional centres.
Minor urban area
These are urbanised settlements (outside main and secondary urban areas), centred around smaller towns with a population between 1,000 and 9,999.
All rural areas
Statistically defined areas with no administrative or legal basis. Two-part hierarchical sub-division of rural areas. They have a population of less than 1,000.
Rural centre
Centres with a population between 300 and 999.
Rural
Rural dwellers living in a true rural area. Rural areas have a population of under 300.
Web radio and web television
Radio and television stations which can be accessed through the Internet, also called 'webcasting'.
Wireless
Access to the Internet via wireless networks (other than cellular technology).
Copyright
Information obtained from Statistics NZ may be freely used, reproduced, or quoted unless otherwise specified. In all cases Statistics NZ must be acknowledged as the source.
Liability
While care has been used in processing, analysing and extracting information, Statistics NZ gives no warranty that the information supplied is free from error. Statistics NZ shall not be liable for any loss suffered through the use, directly or indirectly, of any information, product or service.
Timing
Timed statistical releases are delivered using postal and electronic services provided by third parties. Delivery of these releases may be delayed by circumstances outside the control of Statistics NZ. Statistics NZ accepts no responsibility for any such delays.
Next release
Household Use of Information and Communication Technology: 2008 will be published in 2009.