Topics to be included in the March 2017 Census Test forms:
2018 Census Programme recommendations
Purpose
This document outlines the topics recommended by the 2018 Census Programme to be included in
the individual and dwelling questionnaire forms for the March 2017 Census Test. The intention is to
enable decision makers to make informed decisions on content topics to be included in this census
test. It will also enable other census operational projects to progress work on the March 2017
Census Test.
Context
In order to reflect and best meet the data needs of customers, the 2018 Census content team has
done a full review of existing and potential census content. It has tested a number of new and
changed topics for Census 2018 in conjunction with Questionnaire Methodology & Development,
the 2018 Census Respondent Interaction project and other internal and external stakeholders.
The March 2017 Census Test marks a major milestone for the 2018 Census programme and for the
content that will be included in the 2018 Census. It will be the first test of
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near final census content across modes and in bilingual format
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full online functionality of the internet form including auto suggestion for write in fields
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end-to-end processes for a number of variables resulting in products being produced in
conjunction with the CPSA programme.
The table below outlines
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Recommended existing content (that was not considered for exclusion)
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Recommended content (that was considered for addition, change or exclusion)
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Content not recommended for inclusion.
Content with minor quality improvements to questions, that did not affect the concept collected or
output categories, were not put through the content determination rating process.
New topics recommended for inclusion have been italicised.
For some of the topics considered for inclusion on the individual form, there have been a number of
stages leading to these recommendations. The first column indicates the content teams status
following the July 2016 Census Test, with amber variables being identified as having issues needing
to be resolved prior to recommendation. The second column indicates content recommendations
following reassessment of the amber variables. The third column indicates the recommendations
from the 2018 Census Programme.
It should be noted that the topics of Second Residence and Sexual Orientation were initially
recommended for inclusion in the March 2017 Census Test by the content team. Following concerns
raised over the total amount of content on the individual form, as well as the issues identified in
testing for these topics, they have not been recommended for inclusion.
Individual form topics
Status
Name
Age
Usual residence
Census night address
Birthplace
Years since arrival in New Zealand
Ethnicity
Languages spoken
Maori descent
Religious affiliation
Living arrangements (and the existing range of derived family and
household variables)
Partnership status in current relationship
Recommended
Tenure holder
existing content (that
Highest secondary school qualification
was not considered for
Post-school qualification (tick box addition)
exclusion)
Study participation
Sources of personal income
Total personal income
Work and labour force status
Status in employment
Occupation
Sector of ownership
Industry
Workplace address
Hours worked per week
Sex (addition of third response option)
Iwi affiliation (
no addition of Hapu and Marae)
Main means of travel to work (change from census day)
Number of children born alive
Cigarette smoking behaviour
Recommended
Main means of travel to education
content (that was
Educational Institution address
considered for
Years at usual residence
addition, change or
Usual residence one year ago
exclusion)
Unpaid activities
Highest qualification (including overseas qualification indicator)
Legally registered relationship status
Disability/activity limitations
Sexual orientation
Second residence
Usual residence five years ago* (to be produced from admin data)
Step-families
Content not
Gender Identity
recommended for
Industry training
inclusion
Ownership of other dwellings
Paternity
Well-being indicator
Language proficiency
Region of birthplace
Citizenship
Generational Attachment
Veteran population
Dwelling form topics
Status
Dwelling address
Dwelling counts and types of unoccupied dwellings (note – this
isn’t just from the dwelling form, it also requires information from
the field)
Number of occupants on census night
Recommended existing
Relationship to reference person (and the existing range of derived
content (not considered for
family and household variables)
exclusion)
Weekly rent paid by household
Number of bedrooms
Number of rooms
Tenure of household
Sector of landlord
Type of heating (previously fuel types)
Recommended content (that
Housing quality – access to basic amenities, dampness, mould
was considered for addition,
Occupied dwelling type
change or exclusion)
Access to telecommunication systems (fax category dropped)
Number of motor vehicles (output change)
License to occupy
Internet connection quality
Content not recommended for
Mortgage payment amount
inclusion.