About the SURF
Dataset
Activities
The 2006 Census SURF allows teachers and students to study relationships between variables from the 2006 Census of Population and Dwellings. The 2006 Census SURF (synthetic unit-record file) contains unit-records for 300 individuals for each of the 16 regional councils around New Zealand, and 11 variables, based on data from the 2006 Census of Population and Dwellings.
These records are not about real people, but were generated using statistical techniques to give them similar characteristics to census respondents. This modification helps Statistics New Zealand prevent any unintentional disclosure of data about an individual’s personal information.
The 2006 Census SURF includes a dataset (in Excel format), information on how the dataset was constructed, and some activities. The activities are designed to give ideas on how the 2006 Census SURF can be used at different levels in the classroom, and to link to the statistics strand of the New Zealand Curriculum.
About the 2006 Census of Population and Dwellings
Every five years Statistics NZ makes an official count of the population and dwellings in New Zealand. Statistics NZ conducted the 2006 Census of Population and Dwellings on Tuesday 7 March 2006.
The census provides a 'snapshot' of how many people were in New Zealand on census night and the number of dwellings there were in the country. It also provides a host of other useful information that relates to who we are and how and where we live.
The census provides key information about the people living in our cities, towns, suburbs, and rural communities.
This activity was first released in 2008.
Dataset
SURF |
Dataset |
Census 2006 |
Census 2006 (Excel, 17 pages, 951kb) |
List of variables for Census
Variable name |
Variable description |
Codes |
Notes |
Personid |
Unique person identifier |
Whole number up to 3 digits in length |
|
Sex |
|
|
Categorical data |
Work and labour force status |
- Whether the individual is employed or not, and whether they work full- or part-time.
- Individuals who are unemployed or not in the labour force are listed as not employed
- Employed full-time
|
- Employed full-time
- Employed part-time
- Not employed
|
Categorical data |
Qualification |
The highest educational qualification that the individual has achieved |
- Highest qualification:
- No qualification
- School qualification
- Vocational or trade qualification
- Bachelor's or higher degree
|
Categorical data |
Ethnicity |
- European
- Māori
- Pacific people
- Other
|
- European
- Māori
- Pacific
- Other
|
Categorical data |
Personal income |
Personal annual income of the individual |
- $5,000 or less
- $5,001 – $10,000
- $10,001 – $20,000
- $20,001 – $30,000
- $30,001 – $50,000
- $50,001 or more
|
Categorical data |
Age |
Age of individual |
- 15–24 years
- 25–34 years
- 35–44 years
- 45–54 years
- 55–64 years
- 65 years and over
|
Categorical data |
Main means of travel to work |
Reported mode of travel to work on 7 March 2006. Those with work and labour force status of not employed are listed here as not employed |
- Bicycle
- Did not travel to work
- Drove a car, truck, or van
- Motor cycle or power cycle
- Not employed
- Other passenger in a car, truck, van, or company bus
- Public transport
- Walked or jogged
|
Categorical data |
Hours worked |
Usual hours worked in employment each week. Those with work and labour force status of not employed are listed here as not employed -1-19 hours
|
- 20–29 hours
- 30–39 hours
- 40–49 hours
- 50 hours or more
- Not employed
|
Categorical data |
Cigarette smoking status |
The current smoking status of individuals |
- Ex-smoker
- Never smoked regularly
- Regular smoker
|
Categorical data |
Access to a cellphone/mobile phone |
Access to a cellphone/mobile phone for the household where the individual lives |
|
Categorical data |
Access to the Internet |
Access to the Internet for the household where the individual lives |
|
Categorical data |
Activities
For activity ideas, go to the SURF activities page here.