The census family count of New Zealand is a count of all families in New Zealand where at least one person is present at the usual address of the family on a given census night. Families whose members are all away temporarily elsewhere in New Zealand and/or temporarily overseas on census night are excluded, unless there is someone at their usual residence (for example, another household member, or a visitor) to identify them. In census statistics, a family consists of a family nucleus usually residing together in a household, therefore visitors are excluded.
The term 'family (family nucleus)' is defined in the section Glossary and References.
The estimated families of New Zealand is an estimate of all families usually living in New Zealand at a given date. Families whose members are all away temporarily elsewhere in New Zealand and/or temporarily overseas are included. A family consists of a family nucleus usually residing together in a household, therefore visitors are excluded.
The estimated families of New Zealand at a given date after a census is derived by updating the census family count for:
These adjustments are not derived separately, but are implicitly calculated by applying 'living arrangement type rates' to the estimated resident population, by age and sex, to give the estimated resident population in different living arrangement types. These population estimates are subsequently aggregated to give estimates of families and households.
National family estimates are produced five-yearly (reference date at 30 June) to enable family projections to be produced.
Estimated families form the base for family projections produced by Statistics New Zealand. For example, the base for 2001-base family projections is the estimated number of families at 30 June 2001.
The term 'census family count' has been so worded to:
When presenting data, standard term(s) must be used. For example, "the census family count of New Zealand at 6 March 2001 was ...". The term 'census count of families' may be used in commentary only, where it makes better grammatical sense.
The term 'estimated families' has been so worded to:
When presenting data, standard term(s) must be used. For example, "the estimated families of New Zealand at 30 June 2001 was ...". The term 'estimated number of families' may be used in commentary only, where it makes better grammatical sense.
For more information on how to use the standard terms, please refer to the Output section.