Terminology for Classification Reviews

Terminology for Classification Reviews

This document prescribes the types of reviews to be undertaken for all statistical classifications. It is an approach agreed between the ABS Standards, Classifications Section and Statistics New Zealand's Classifications and Standards Section.

Types of reviews

Every standard classification should be reviewed at appropriate intervals to ensure that it is still relevant and meeting the needs of key users. There are three types of reviews that can be undertaken for a statistical classification. These are:

• Classification Update
• Classification Minor Review
• Classification Major Review

An update is deemed to be an immediate change, a minor review is scheduled maintenance usually on a 4-5 year cycle, and a major review is scheduled maintenance/development on a ten yearly cycle.

Classification Update

A classification update occurs for operational reasons ie an immediate response to reflect needs in administrative collections or because of legislative change.

A classification update does not alter the conceptual base of a classification and should only have very minimal impact on the classification structure (particularly if a hierarchical classification).

A classification update only applies to two New Zealand Standard Classifications. These are:

• New Zealand Standards Classification of Countries (NZSCC) – to reflect immediate need for Customs/Immigration purposes.
• New Zealand Harmonised System Classification (NZHSC) – to reflect immediate need for Customs tariff changes as promulgated as and when by the New Zealand Government. NB: The five yearly changes to the NZHSC statistical keys and structure are considered a minor review.

Classification Minor Review

A classification minor review occurs on a regular schedule as agreed with stakeholders and/or between the statistical agencies, and as work programmes and resources allow. The scope of a classification minor review may include some or all of the following:

• clarification of category definitions including the addition or deletion within categories at the lowest level of a classification of primary activities, alternative titles or specialisations;
• inclusion of emerging and/or new categories at the lowest level of a classification to reflect real world change or, for example to split categories such as not elsewhere classified.

A classification minor review will usually occur on a 4-5 yearly cycle after a major review unless a shorter time-frame is required, and usually will occur between population censuses. A classification minor review does not alter the conceptual base of a classification, may change the classification structure at the lowest level (of an hierarchical classification) but does not change higher levels of a classification.

Classification Major Review

A classification major review occurs on a regular schedule as agreed with stakeholders or users and/or between the statistical agencies, and as the work programmes and resources allow, or if there is a significant change in an international classification which impacts on an existing statistical classification used in New Zealand.

A classification major review may include some or all of the following:

• conceptual changes
• structural changes
• definitional changes including clarification of category scope and revision of any inclusions or exclusions.

A classification major review will occur in a ten-fifteen cycle subject to stakeholder requirement/need, real world change, and/or an agreed review cycle/strategy as determined with the Australian Bureau of Statistics.