Limitations of provisional census night counts
Users of population data need to be aware of the differences in definition and coverage when choosing a population measure. Provisional census counts provide only an early indication of the number of people that Statistics New Zealand believes to have been in different local authority areas on census night. The provisional census counts do not give a measure of how many people usually live in a local authority area. For planning purposes, local authorities and other users of population data who want an accurate measure of the number of people who usually live in an area are advised to use population estimates.
Population counts
Two sets of population counts are released from the census: census night population counts and census usually resident population counts. Census counts give a snapshot of the population, and are not adjusted for residents missed or counted more than once, or residents who are temporarily overseas.
Census night population counts are counts of the number of people at the place they were enumerated on census night. This count includes overseas visitors as well as visitors from elsewhere in New Zealand. It excludes New Zealand residents temporarily overseas.
Census usually resident population counts are counts of all people who usually live in New Zealand, or in an area of New Zealand, and are present in New Zealand on a given census night. These counts exclude visitors from overseas and exclude residents who are temporarily overseas on census night. Residents who are in New Zealand but away from their usual address on census night are allocated back to the area where they usually live and form part of the census usually resident population count of that area. These counts from the 2006 Census will be released in late November 2006.
The provisional counts
The provisional counts are early estimates of census night counts. They represent estimates based on administrative returns, not from census forms processed. Data for the provisional counts comes from the fieldbooks used by collectors. The provisional count is calculated by a count of the number of forms collected from the field as at 10 April 2006, plus the number of forms that were known to be outstanding. Outstanding forms are those which collectors have given out and recorded in their fieldbooks but which had not been collected by 10 April 2006.
The provisional counts are counts of people and occupied dwellings on census night (7 March 2006). They cover all people in New Zealand on census night including overseas visitors but excluding New Zealand residents temporarily overseas on census night.
Population estimates
Statistics New Zealand publishes population estimates at regular intervals (quarterly for national estimates and annually for subnational estimates). The population estimates refer to the estimated resident population and differ from census counts.
The estimated resident population of New Zealand includes all residents present in New Zealand and counted by the census (census usually resident population count), residents who are temporarily overseas (who are not included in the census), and an adjustment for residents missed or counted more than once by the census (net census undercount). Visitors from overseas are excluded.
Users of population data need to be aware of the differences in definition and coverage when choosing a population measure.
The current population estimates are based on the 2001 Census of Population and Dwellings. They are derived by updating the 2001 Census usually resident population counts, for net census undercount, residents temporarily overseas on census night, and natural increase (excess of births over deaths) and net permanent and long-term migration following the 2001 Census.
The latest national population estimates (at 31 March 2006) were released on 12 May 2006. The estimated resident population based on the 2006 Census will be available mid-2007. The estimated resident population based on the 2001 Census will continue to be published until the 2006-base estimates become available.
Overseas visitors and residents temporarily overseas
Estimates calculated from sampled short-term visitor arrival records indicate that there were about 184,900 short-term overseas visitors in New Zealand on census night (7 March 2006). Estimates calculated from sampled short-term New Zealand resident departure records show that there were about 58,600 New Zealand residents temporarily overseas on census night.
Data quality
The provisional counts are an estimate based on administrative records and are subject to error due to incorrect counting of figures in the fieldbook and data entry errors.
The final census counts may also be different from the provisional counts because of factors which are unknown at 10 April 2006. For example, there will be census forms that have been returned after 10 April that are not part of the provisional count. Final census counts are calculated from fully processed census forms and will be available in late November 2006.
Rounding
Provisional figures in this release have been rounded to reflect the imprecise nature of the counts, while historical data have been rounded to base three. As a result of this process, the sum of component items in tables may not be exactly equal to the totals, and totals between tables may differ. All percentages in this release have been calculated using rounded figures.
Time series
Users of the data should note that the time series data from the 1996 and 2001 censuses are final counts, obtained from the final census datasets using current (2006) geographic boundaries for regional councils and territorial authorities.
On 6 March 2006, Banks Peninsula District Council amalgamated with the Christchurch City Council. This amalgamation impacts on the release of data at the Territorial Authority level. For the purposes of time series, Banks Peninsula data for 1996, 2001 and 2006 have been incorporated under Christchurch City.
Scope of the census
The census covers all dwellings in New Zealand on 7 March 2006 and every man, woman, child and baby alive in New Zealand on 7 March 2006 who was:
- on New Zealand soil
- on a vessel in New Zealand waters or
- on a passage between New Zealand ports.
Overseas residents and other people in diplomatic residences in New Zealand, including housekeeping staff, uniformed military personnel or members of diplomats' families, are included in the census, as are foreign military personnel and their families located in New Zealand on census night (including foreign warships in New Zealand territorial waters on census night). New Zealand military, naval and diplomatic personnel and their families located outside New Zealand on census night, are not included in the census.
The geographic coverage of the census includes the North Island, South Island, Stewart Island and the Chatham Islands, plus off-shore islands including the Kermadec Islands, Campbell Island, Three Kings Islands, Auckland Islands, Mayor Island, Motiti Island, White Island, Moutohora Island, Antipodes Islands, Bounty Islands and Snares Islands. The Ross Dependency is excluded from the population count.
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 ...
2006 Census of Population and Dwellings – Final Counts: 2006 will be released in
late November 2006.