Dataset contains counts and measures for individuals from the 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses. Data is available by statistical area 1.

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The variables included in this dataset are for the census usually resident population count (unless otherwise stated). All data is for level 1 of the classification.

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The variables for part 2 of the dataset are:

• Individual home ownership for the census usually resident population count aged 15 years and over
• Usual residence 1 year ago indicator
• Usual residence 5 years ago indicator
• Years at usual residence
• Average years at usual residence
• Years since arrival in New Zealand for the overseas-born census usually resident population count
• Average years since arrival in New Zealand for the overseas-born census usually resident population count
• Study participation
• Main means of travel to education, by usual residence address for the census usually resident population who are studying
• Main means of travel to education, by education address for the census usually resident population who are studying
• Highest qualification for the census usually resident population count aged 15 years and over
• Post-school qualification in New Zealand indicator for the census usually resident population count aged 15 years and over
• Highest secondary school qualification for the census usually resident population count aged 15 years and over
• Post-school qualification level of attainment for the census usually resident population count aged 15 years and over
• Sources of personal income (total responses) for the census usually resident population count aged 15 years and over
• Total personal income for the census usually resident population count aged 15 years and over
• Median ($) total personal income for the census usually resident population count aged 15 years and over
• Work and labour force status for the census usually resident population count aged 15 years and over
• Job search methods (total responses) for the unemployed census usually resident population count aged 15 years and over
• Status in employment for the employed census usually resident population count aged 15 years and over
• Unpaid activities (total responses) for the census usually resident population count aged 15 years and over
• Hours worked in employment per week for the employed census usually resident population count aged 15 years and over
• Average hours worked in employment per week for the employed census usually resident population count aged 15 years and over
• Industry, by usual residence address for the employed census usually resident population count aged 15 years and over
• Industry, by workplace address for the employed census usually resident population count aged 15 years and over
• Occupation, by usual residence address for the employed census usually resident population count aged 15 years and over
• Occupation, by workplace address for the employed census usually resident population count aged 15 years and over
• Main means of travel to work, by usual residence address for the employed census usually resident population count aged 15 years and over
• Main means of travel to work, by workplace address for the employed census usually resident population count aged 15 years and over
• Sector of ownership for the employed census usually resident population count aged 15 years and over
• Individual unit data source.

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Download lookup file for part 2 from Stats NZ ArcGIS Online or embedded attachment in Stats NZ geographic data service. Download data table (excluding the geometry column for CSV files) using the instructions in the Koordinates help guide.

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Footnotes

Te Whata

Under the Mana Ōrite Relationship Agreement, Te Kāhui Raraunga (TKR) will be publishing Māori descent and iwi affiliation data from the 2023 Census in partnership with Stats NZ. This will be available on Te Whata, a TKR platform.

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Geographical boundaries

Statistical standard for geographic areas 2023 (updated December 2023) has information about geographic boundaries as of 1 January 2023. Address data from 2013 and 2018 Censuses was updated to be consistent with the 2023 areas. Due to the changes in area boundaries and coding methodologies, 2013 and 2018 counts published in 2023 may be slightly different to those published in 2013 or 2018.

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Subnational census usually resident population

The census usually resident population count of an area (subnational count) is a count of all people who usually live in that area and were present in New Zealand on census night. It excludes visitors from overseas, visitors from elsewhere in New Zealand, and residents temporarily overseas on census night. For example, a person who usually lives in Christchurch city and is visiting Wellington city on census night will be included in the census usually resident population count of Christchurch city.

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Population counts

Stats NZ publishes a number of different population counts, each using a different definition and methodology. Population statistics – user guide has more information about different counts.

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Caution using time series

Time series data should be interpreted with care due to changes in census methodology and differences in response rates between censuses. The 2023 and 2018 Censuses used a combined census methodology (using census responses and administrative data), while the 2013 Census used a full-field enumeration methodology (with no use of administrative data).

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Study participation time series

In the 2013 Census study participation was only collected for the census usually resident population count aged 15 years and over.

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About the 2023 Census dataset

For information on the 2023 dataset see Using a combined census model for the 2023 Census. We combined data from the census forms with administrative data to create the 2023 Census dataset, which meets Stats NZ's quality criteria for population structure information. We added real data about real people to the dataset where we were confident the people who hadn’t completed a census form (which is known as admin enumeration) will be counted. We also used data from the 2018 and 2013 Censuses, administrative data sources, and statistical imputation methods to fill in some missing characteristics of people and dwellings.

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Data quality

The quality of data in the 2023 Census is assessed using the quality rating scale and the quality assurance framework to determine whether data is fit for purpose and suitable for release. Data quality assurance in the 2023 Census has more information.

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Concept descriptions and quality ratings

Data quality ratings for 2023 Census variables has additional details about variables found within totals by topic, for example, definitions and data quality.

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Disability indicator

This data should not be used as an official measure of disability prevalence. Disability prevalence estimates are only available from the 2023 Household Disability Survey. Household Disability Survey 2023: Final content has more information about the survey.

Activity limitations are measured using the Washington Group Short Set (WGSS). The WGSS asks about six basic activities that a person might have difficulty with: seeing, hearing, walking or climbing stairs, remembering or concentrating, washing all over or dressing, and communicating. A person was classified as disabled in the 2023 Census if there was at least one of these activities that they had a lot of difficulty with or could not do at all.

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Using data for good

Stats NZ expects that, when working with census data, it is done so with a positive purpose, as outlined in the Māori Data Governance Model (Data Iwi Leaders Group, 2023). This model states that "data should support transformative outcomes and should uplift and strengthen our relationships with each other and with our environments. The avoidance of harm is the minimum expectation for data use. Māori data should also contribute to iwi and hapū tino rangatiratanga”.

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Confidentiality

The 2023 Census confidentiality rules have been applied to 2013, 2018, and 2023 data. These rules protect the confidentiality of individuals, families, households, dwellings, and undertakings in 2023 Census data. Counts are calculated using fixed random rounding to base 3 (FRR3) and suppression of ‘sensitive’ counts less than six, where tables report multiple geographic variables and/or small populations. Individual figures may not always sum to stated totals. Applying confidentiality rules to 2023 Census data and summary of changes since 2018 and 2013 Censuses has more information about 2023 Census confidentiality rules.

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Measures

Measures like averages, medians, and other quantiles are calculated from unrounded counts, with input noise added to or subtracted from each contributing value

Dataset contains Māori descent indicator census usually resident population counts from the 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses, as well as the percentage change in the Māori descent indicator counts between the 2013 and 2018 Censuses, and between the 2018 and 2023 Censuses. Data is available by territorial authority and Auckland local board.

Māori descent indicator categories are:

• Māori descent
• No Māori descent
• Don’t know.

Download lookup file from Stats NZ ArcGIS Online or embedded attachment in Stats NZ geographic data service. Download data table (excluding the geometry column for CSV files) using the instructions in the Koordinates help guide.

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Footnotes

Te Whata

Under the Mana Ōrite Relationship Agreement, Te Kāhui Raraunga (TKR) will be publishing Māori descent and iwi affiliation data from the 2023 Census in partnership with Stats NZ. This will be available on Te Whata, a TKR platform.

​

Geographical boundaries

Statistical standard for geographic areas 2023 (updated December 2023) has information about geographic boundaries as of 1 January 2023. Address data from 2013 and 2018 Censuses was updated to be consistent with the 2023 areas. Due to the changes in area boundaries and coding methodologies, 2013 and 2018 counts published in 2023 may be slightly different to those published in 2013 or 2018.

​

Subnational census usually resident population

The census usually resident population count of an area (subnational count) is a count of all people who usually live in that area and were present in New Zealand on census night. It excludes visitors from overseas, visitors from elsewhere in New Zealand, and residents temporarily overseas on census night. For example, a person who usually lives in Christchurch city and is visiting Wellington city on census night will be included in the census usually resident population count of Christchurch city.

​

Caution using time series

Time series data should be interpreted with care due to changes in census methodology and differences in response rates between censuses. The 2023 and 2018 Censuses used a combined census methodology (using census responses and administrative data), while the 2013 Census used a full-field enumeration methodology (with no use of administrative data).

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About the 2023 Census dataset

For information on the 2023 dataset see Using a combined census model for the 2023 Census. We combined data from the census forms with administrative data to create the 2023 Census dataset, which meets Stats NZ's quality criteria for population structure information. We added real data about real people to the dataset where we were confident the people who hadn’t completed a census form (which is known as admin enumeration) will be counted. We also used data from the 2018 and 2013 Censuses, administrative data sources, and statistical imputation methods to fill in some missing characteristics of people and dwellings.

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Data quality

The quality of data in the 2023 Census is assessed using the quality rating scale and the quality assurance framework to determine whether data is fit for purpose and suitable for release. Data quality assurance in the 2023 Census has more information.

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Quality rating of a variable

The quality rating of a variable provides an overall evaluation of data quality for that variable, usually at the highest levels of classification. The quality ratings shown are for the 2023 Census unless stated. There is variability in the quality of data at smaller geographies. Data quality may also vary between censuses, for subpopulations, or when cross tabulated with other variables or at lower levels of the classification. Data quality ratings for 2023 Census variables has more information on quality ratings by variable.

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Māori descent concept quality rating

Māori descent is rated as very high quality.

Māori descent – 2023 Census: Information by concept has more information, for example, definitions and data quality.

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Using data for good

Stats NZ expects that, when working with census data, it is done so with a positive purpose, as outlined in the Māori Data Governance Model (Data Iwi Leaders Group, 2023). This model states that "data should support transformative outcomes and should uplift and strengthen our relationships with each other and with our environments. The avoidance of harm is the minimum expectation for data use. Māori data should also contribute to iwi and hapū tino rangatiratanga”.

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Confidentiality

The 2023 Census confidentiality rules have been applied to 2013, 2018, and 2023 data. These rules protect the confidentiality of individuals, families, households, dwellings, and undertakings in 2023 Census data. Counts are calculated using fixed random rounding to base 3 (FRR3) and suppression of ‘sensitive’ counts less than six, where tables report multiple geographic variables and/or small populations. Individual figures may not always sum to stated totals. Applying confidentiality rules to 2023 Census data and summary of changes since 2018 and 2013 Censuses has more information about 2023 Census confidentiality rules.

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Symbol

-998 Not applicable

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Percentages

To calculate percentages, divide the figure for the category of interest by the figure for ‘Total stated’ where this applies.

These boundaries comprise the seven Māori electorates released by the Representation Commission in April 2020. These boundaries will be used for the 2020 and 2023 general elections.

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The Representation Commission is convened by the Surveyor-General, its role is to re-draw electorate boundaries to make sure each electorate has about the same number of people. We calculate the Māori electoral population, number of Māori electorates and electoral quota using the formula specified in the Electoral Act 1993. When setting the boundaries, the Representation Commission also considers existing boundaries, communities of interest (including iwi affiliations), the infrastructure that links communities (such as main roads), topographical features, and any projected variation in the population of those electorates during their existence.

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Data is provided with tohutō/macrons (UTF-8 format). To support users with the compatibility of the data and the applications they might be using, additional fields are also provided in ASCII format.

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Meshblocks, which aggregate to form electorates, are updated annually by Stats NZ. The 2020 electorate boundaries reflect a number of minor technical adjustments to meshblock boundaries, not involving population i.e. to follow the correct line of a river or road. The adjustments are visible in a small number of land and coastal areas where electorate boundaries otherwise unchanged between 2014 and 2020 do not exactly align.