Tonga NSO_SPC 2006 Population Census Questionnaire Development Workshop on the 2010 World Programme on Population and Housing Censuses: International standards, contemporary technologies and regional cooperation. Noumea, New Caledonia, 4 – 8 February 2006. Sione Lolohea Tonga NSO.

GENERAL OUTLINE Background information Human resources 2006 Population and Housing Questionnaire Form Amendments Questionnaire Form Acknowledgement

Background information History background Tonga’s preparation for census 2006 This was done through the collaboration of the Tonga National Statistics Office (TNSO) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC). The SPC initially and continues to provide assistance

Human resources High turnover of staffs in the TNSOs is one of the most critical situations TNSO desperately needed technical assistance. TA from SPC visited the TNSO to assist/monitor the progress of the Census preparation and operation, such as planning, mapping, questionnaire and data processing.

2006 Population and Housing Questionnaire a. Questionnaire development Tonga was using the Pacific model questionnaire together with the 1996 census questionnaires as the basis in formulating questionnaire form. Content of the questionnaire form (steering committee & stakeholders) Questionnaire design (TNSO & SPC).

2006 Population and Housing Questionnaire (con’t) a. Questionnaire development (con’t) Pacific model questionnaire Tonga 1996 census questionnaire form Policy issues from stakeholders Nadi Workshop for PICT questionnaires TNSO & SPC amendments Draft questionnaire

2006 Population and Housing Questionnaire (con’t) b. Pilot test of the questionnaire form The TNSO conducted 3 informal pilot and 1 formal pilot test of the questionnaire form. Feed back from the data processing perspective also contributed to an improve questionnaire form.

2006 Population and Housing Questionnaire (con’t) c. Topics included in 1996 Population and Housing Census questionnaire There are two questionnaires: Household (8 questions) and Personal (22 questions) questionnaire. d. Topics included in 2006 Population There are two questionnaires: Household (15 questions) and Personal (29 questions) questionnaire

Amendments Questionnaire Form Questions was not included from the pacific model: Household form period building first constructed and number of rooms. Personal form “did this person actively look for work at any time in the last 4 weeks”.

Amendments Questionnaire Form Tonga introduced some new questions: Household form Source of water apart from drinking water Household income Household remittances Household mortality Personal form Disability Injury or illness Smoking habits Labor force

Amendments Questionnaire Form After the Steering Committee approved the content of the questionnaire form, TNSO and SPC continued to design the census form. The main purpose of the amendments: to meet the national requirements to improve questionnaire wording, content and design that is consistent with international standards. For instance, the first time to use the lay out of labor forces question and UN definition of unemployment.

Acknowledgement First of all, the UNSD and the SPC for organizing this very important workshop. To SPC especially Statistics and Demography Program for your great assistance without your support Tonga 2006 census would not in place. And to Donor Fund especially AusAid and NZAid, Thank you very much indeed and Malo ‘aupito.