Age, along with sex is one of the most important social variables collected by Statistics New Zealand. They are more frequently cross–tabulated with other characteristics of the population than any other variables. Age is also used as a fundamental input in the creation of a large range of derived output variables. For example:
The standard is currently used by other parts of the Official Statistics System in New Zealand.
The classification and standard is not based on an international standard or the standard of another country, but follows the recommendations of the United Nations.