2006 Census
Introduction
Counting more than four million people throughout New Zealand is a major undertaking, and inevitably some people will be missed or counted more than once by the census. Many countries conduct surveys to estimate the populations not enumerated by their censuses. The 2006 Post-enumeration Survey (PES) was the third to be undertaken in New Zealand since the inaugural PES in 1996.
The main objective of the 2006 PES was to gauge the level of national coverage (undercount and overcount) in the 2006 Census. The 2006 PES, like the 1996 and 2001 surveys, was a sample survey of individuals in private dwellings. The survey was carried out between 21 March and 3 April 2006, beginning two weeks after the census (7 March), and was comprised of about 10,900 dwellings and 25,000 individuals.
Overall, coverage in the 2006 Census was high, reflecting the cooperation and support of the New Zealand public, and the high quality work of field staff. The PES showed that about 98.0 percent of New Zealand residents in the country on census night were enumerated in the 2006 Census, representing a net undercount of 2.0 percent or 81,000 people. The net undercount figure results from an estimated gross undercount of 92,000 people (2.2 percent), offset by 11,000 people (0.2 percent) being counted more than once (overcount). Net undercount in the 2001 PES was estimated at 2.2 percent, and the 1996 PES recorded a net undercount of 1.6 percent. Further results and supporting information on the 2006 PES can be found in the results and technical notes sections of this report.
A post-enumeration survey is one method of examining the quality of census output and processes. Results from the 2001 PES contributed to 2006 enumeration plans, and similarly the 2006 PES will assist Statistics New Zealand in developing an enumeration strategy for the 2011 Census. Reports on other aspects of the quality of the 2006 Census will be produced at a later date.
The environment for collecting data is becoming more difficult. The New Zealand population has become more diverse in terms of ethnicity, living arrangements and lifestyles. Accordingly, Statistics NZ put a range of initiatives in place to encourage people to participate. These included public communication campaigns via advertising and community liaison, and the option for people to complete their forms over the Internet. Seven percent of people completed their forms on-line and a further 10 percent returned their forms by post. Results from the 2006 PES provide reassurance that through initiatives such as these, the census is able to operate effectively in a more complex environment.
A PES is also required to calculate a reliable population base for deriving post-censal population estimates and projections. The 2006 Census usually resident population counts will be adjusted for the estimated net undercount (undercount less overcount), as part of the adjustments toward deriving the estimated resident population of New Zealand at 30 June 2006. This forms the base population for estimating the resident population for the next five years.
A Report on the 2006 Post-enumeration Survey carrying the main results and background information from New Zealand’s third post-enumeration survey (PES) is now available.
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