The standard terms given above refer to the total measure (count or estimate) of the given variable, for example, all households counted in New Zealand on census night. However, the total is usually broken down into more detail, using one of the first four statistical standards and its related classification(s).
Dwellings can be classified by dwelling function as 'private' or 'non-private'. Private dwellings can be classified by dwelling structure as 'single' or 'multiple', and then further defined as 'permanent' or 'temporary' etc.
Dwellings can be classified by the concept of occupancy status as 'occupied', 'unoccupied' or 'under construction'.
Standard terms one to eight for both census counts and demographic estimates of dwellings are based on the three concepts of function, structure and occupancy status; the eight definitions are needed to clarify the inclusions and exclusions.
Household composition is a derived variable that classifies households according to relationships between usually resident people.
Family type is a derived variable that classifies family nuclei according to the presence or absence of couples, parents and children, based on the concept of people who have usual residence together.
Standard terms for measures of dwellings, households and families follow a similar format to the standard terms for the three main measures of population.
There are three main population measures produced by Statistics New Zealand:
Usual residence (the address of the dwelling where a person considers himself or herself to usually reside) is a key variable for determining the geographic characteristics of the population. This concept is a criterion for household and family statistics.
The United Nations Statistical Division and the Australian Bureau of Statistics do not offer comparable standard terms for measures of dwellings, households and families.