1. 2018 Census
Our aim is to produce a seamless experience for all customers through a range of valuable and accessible products and services that deliver and demonstrate the value of census participation.

2. 6 March 2018
The next census day is on 6 March The census can be completed on or before 6th March 2018.
By asking everyone to complete a set of questions about themselves and their household, we can capture a snapshot of who is living in, and visiting, New Zealand.

3. Senior Net and Census
Assisted approximately 2,300 people over 5 days in the final run-up to Census day
Age group:
Over 65 Learning Centres gave assistance to senior communities throughout the country, especially in provincial New Zealand
Received lots of media interest from
local radio
local and national newspapers
covered on TV3 breakfast show
In general terms we underestimated the take-up of offer to help.
Overall, we assisted approximately 2,300 people, mostly over the period of the 5 days in the final run-up to Census day.
From reports back from our centres a general thread developed with most assistance provided in provincial New Zealand
The average number of individuals helped per Learning Centre equated to approximately 32 people, most were in the age group 60 plus, the oldest being 95!
Many Centres provided positive articles to local media. I was interviewed by five different radio stations plus was invited on the TV3 breakfast show. I also provided numerous articles to national newspapers.
All things considered it was a positive experience for SeniorNet.

4. What we will cover
• Why we do the census • How information is used • 2018 Census – How it has changed – Processing and new methodologies • Census content • Products and Services • Useful resources • Q&A session
2013 Census Products & Services – what went well? How we’ve used these successes to inform the 2018 P&S Releases

5. Why we do the census
Good decisions are made when you know the numbers - Census information is used by government, iwi, businesses and community organisations all over New Zealand to help them make informed decisions and plan for the future.

6. How we use census information
Population information from the census helps determine how government funding is spent in the community.
Census data is used by councils, community groups and businesses to plan for the future.
The census provides quality information about small geographical areas and small groups of people across New Zealand.
The data is used to determine the number of general and Māori electorates.
A census is different from other sources of data (such as sample surveys) as it includes information from every person in New Zealand.
It also allows us to compare data over time from one census to the next. People are born, move house, get married, grow old, die. Census allows us to measure and report on these changes in a general sense and plan for the future.
Census data is available for much smaller geographic areas (down to meshblocks and area units) than sample surveys.
It can also provide information on small population groups such as different ethnicities.

7. Community Use of Census Data Hamilton City Council’s community profiles
Lack of services in Hamilton
Census Data
Ethnicity
Heating
Rent
Number of people per household
Community profiles =
Funding and planning community projects
Hamilton City Council
Hamilton City Council’s community profiles provide a snapshot of the city’s communities. Using 2013 Census data, along with their 2014 community profile survey, the council built up a picture of each of the 11 geographical areas of the city, as well as an ethnic profile of the city as a whole.
The community profile survey asked residents about their experiences of living in Hamilton and their views on social services and public facilities in their area. The council were very interested to learn what services the public believed were lacking in the community, and local organisations are able to use the profiles for planning community projects. Profiles were used to support funding applications.
The census is the only source of detailed demographics and statistics at a local level, and census data was used to add key information to the profiles. For example, the survey asked residents what they thought about the quality of housing in the city, the availability of homes, and the cost of rentals. Census data provides information about things like what kinds of heating people use, how much rent they pay each week, and how many people live in each house.
The profiles have been well used by the community for planning events and understanding community needs. The council plans to update the profiles after the 2018 Census.

8. Looking after your information
All census information is protected by law – under the Statistics Act 1975.
Whether you complete the census online or on paper, we have safeguards and procedures in place to assure the security and confidentiality of your information.
All of the information we hold is de-identified before it is made available for research or analysis.
We never share identifiable information with other government agencies without your consent and our published statistics and research do not identify individuals, households, or businesses.
If you choose to take part in the census using our paper forms, we will process the information in a secure facility and combine it with the information we have collected online.
We also have clear rules for the release of data:
data can only be released to certain geographical levels
we limit the range of data tables for smaller communities to eliminate the possibility of identification

9. Census – how things have changed!
The census changes over time to meet the needs of society
We used to collect information on:
Responding to Change:
Over that time New Zealand society has undergone massive changes.
The census not only has to reflect and measure this change but also to maintain a time-series record of both key and relevant information.
In 1901 there were 20,022 house servants
We collected information on flush toilets between 1945 & 1971
We collected information on poultry up to Fowls, Ducks, Geese, Turkeys, Other poultry.
Between 1966 and 1981 we asked respondents if they had a television and washing machine in their dwelling.
In 2001 we collected information on Internet access for the first time – will be asking that again in 2018
Introduce content of forms now
Personal information
Age and sex
Ethnicity
Māori descent
Languages
Religion
Iwi
Location
Occupation
Income
Qualifications
New content on disability
Household information
Families
Home ownership
Heating
Access to vehicles
Internet access
Rent $$
New content on housing quality, including access to basic amenities, mould and dampness

10. Drivers for change Rising costs and the potential for efficiencies
Ongoing trend of declining response rates (particularly for small sub-groups and small areas)
Increasing availability and sharing of administrative data across government
Technological advances
High-quality, relevant census information is critical to New Zealand, with an estimated net present value over the next 25 years of close to $1.4 billion. The census model needs to change if it is to be sustainable over time.
Compelling drivers for change include:
rising costs and the potential for efficiencies
the ongoing trend of declining response rates (particularly for small sub-groups and small areas)
the increasing availability and sharing of administrative data across government
technological advances.
In February 2014, Statistics NZ confirmed that a modernised census in 2018 is still the best available method to deliver changes needed for the next census.
The change that will be rolled out in 2018 is the first step towards a new self-response model that responds to these drivers.
Running parallel to the change programme for the 2018 Census, Stats NZ has been developing the foundations required to support a census model that will use administrative data rather than a survey to collect the information required.
{Extra info:
Results have shown that a lot of information can be produced from administrative data, however supporting surveys will still be needed. Significant further work is required to ensure data can be provided to meet key user needs and to manage the risks associated with the potential loss of breadth and depth of data. Further testing will be undertaken in this area during the 2018 Census, to contribute to the broader Census Transformation project underway.}

11. 2018 Census strategic goals
Improve data quality while modernising
Reduce the cost of collection operations
Contribute to Stats NZ organisational capability
Increase the use of administrative data
Make digital engagement easy
Adopt a test driven environment
Deliver customer driven products and services
2018 Census strategy – paper available on the Stats NZ website which goes into more detail about each of these but good to reflect on the strategies that are directing us for 2018.

12. 2013 Online Census Response
• 40% of online respondents completed their forms on census day.
• The higher a respondent’s level of income and education, the more likely they were to complete the census online.
• Respondents living in rural areas were less likely to complete their forms online than those living in towns or cities.
Here is a summary of findings from the 2013 online census response.
• Forty percent of online respondents completed their forms on census day.
• The higher a respondent’s level of income and education, the more likely they were to complete the census online.
• Respondents living in rural areas were less likely to complete their forms online than those living in towns or cities.
[proceed to next slide - same graph with more notes showing additional key findings]

13. 2013 Online Census Response
• The growth in online response between the 2006 and 2013 Censuses was more or less uniform across respondent demographics.
• The characteristics of online respondents to the 2013 Census reflect a general profile of New Zealand Internet users.
• The growth in online response between the 2006 and 2013 Censuses was more or less uniform across respondent demographics.
• The characteristics of online respondents to the 2013 Census reflect a general profile of New Zealand Internet users.
The graph explores the differences in online response rates according to a rage of respondent characteristics
The results described are based on individual form submissions only, and include every individual each variable was collected from (unless otherwise specified).
The highest proportion of online response came from people in their 20s, who completed online forms at a rate of 43.2%. It is likely that many of these respondents also account for the similarly high online response rate shown in this graph among 0-14 year olds, as parents providing proxy responses for their children.
People aged yrs completed online forms at a rate of just above 30%; lower than the average online response rate of 34.3% (shown by the dotted line).
From the age of 40 upwards, the online response rate steadily declines. Just 1 in 10 respondents aged 80yrs or over completed their census forms online.

14. A modernised, digital first census

15. % What’s different? Enable Analyse Visit Share Enable
In 2018, instead of a pack being delivered to your house and then collected after census day, most households in NZ will be sent an access code in the post – so they can take part online.
Some households will have their code delivered instead of sent in the mail.
Codes and paper forms will also be delivered to places like hospitals and hotels, where people will be staying on census night.
If you can’t complete the census online, you will be able to request paper forms and return them in the post.
Visit
After census day, if you are yet to complete your census you will receive a follow up letter.
We’ll then send our field staff to areas where people haven’t taken part to follow up with households.
Analyse
Once we’ve received your information, it is safely processed and stored.
Share
Once we’ve processed it, checked it, and de-identified the information, refreshed statistics and information will be ready to be shared with organisations, iwi, government and community groups to use to help them make informed decisions.

16. How we process information
Once you’ve submitted your information, we will process it, and store it securely.
Once we have responses back from everyone, we will analyse it, and then produce refreshed statistics and information for organisations, iwi, government and community groups to use to help them make informed decisions.
When we share individual, household, or business information with other government agencies for statistical and public interest research, we de-identify the information before it is shared.
Information comes in
Data is processed and analysed
Data is de-identified and disseminated

17. REPEAT Processing System Metadata Metadata Evaluate Data Evaluate Data
Rules Engine
Metadata
Metadata
Evaluate Data
Evaluate Data
Final Unit Record Data
Responses
Processed Data
Processed Data
Raw Data
Raw Data
Raw Data
The above diagram illustrates how the data will flow through the processing system. Unlike in previous censuses, the system is no longer linear.
The data will be continually processed over and over again meaning that any micro or macro edits will change the system and be applied to the data when it is processed again. 
As part of the changes in 2018 from 2013, with the aim of providing more useful data for our customers, New Zealand usual residents who are away from their usual residence on census night will be repatriated to their usual dwelling during the processing phase.
Previously these people were repatriated only to their usual meshblock. Our customers have told us that they are interested in information about families and households, and repatriating people to their usual residence is part of the plan to elevate the quality of this data.
Field Operations

18. Moving the census online
Dynamic collection model
Able to forecast NRFU collection and expenditures at regional level
Forecast used to direct resources to ensure relevant response level for each targeted area
Real-time results and processing
Positive impacts on data quality
Reducing respondent burden
Compatible on multiple devices
Dynamic collection model
Able to forecast NRFU collection and expenditures at regional level
Forecast used to direct resources to ensure relevant response level for each targeted area
Real-time results and processing
Positive impacts on data quality in comparison to paper form data
Reducing respondent burden – often quicker to complete as non application questions were skipped / redirected
How did other countries do with Census online?
- Australia came close to their target of 65%, and even experience an outage of their systems, achieving an online response of 63.3%
- Canada exceeded their target of 65%, reaching an online response rate of 68.4%
Completing the census online also provided improved support to those with vision impairment
Internet security measures
ICS encrypted data deleted from external databases at end of ICS period.
ICS encrypts user data at source. Only Statistics New Zealand has the key to decrypt
ICS access only possible with valid Internet ID and IAC.
ICS and census website developed to prevent known attack vectors.

19. Completing census online
It’s secure, quick and easy
Pre-linked addresses to access codes
Online forms are optimised for mobile, tablet, desktop
Bilingual
Online help
Drop down lists to help manage the accuracy of responses.

20. Individual form Q2: Name
Who: Everyone
Who uses it: Stats NZ
What it is used for:
To match the household’s individual forms with the people listed on the dwelling form
Te Kupenga Māori Social Survey

21. Individual form Q35: Income
Who: Everyone aged 15 years and over who lives in NZ
Who uses it: Local and central government
What it is used for:
Decile ratings – basis for funding for schools
NZ Deprivation index
Policy and monitoring programmes
Quality issues: High non-response rate
Total personal income received is the before-tax income of a person in the 12 months ended 31 March The information is collected as income bands rather than in actual dollars.
Total personal income can be combined with other income information from the same family or household to provide:
combined parental income for couples with child(ren)
total family income
total extended family income
total household income.
Total income is income before the deduction of income tax, levies or withholding payments, and includes such items as income sourced from wages and salaries, self-employed income, property and rental income, dividends and investments, social insurance, superannuation, government assistance schemes and private transfers such as child support. It does not include social transfers in kind such as public education or government subsidised health care services. Also excluded are reimbursement of expenses, money received from borrowing, contingent income and unrealised income.
Data from this variable is used:
to formulate social and economic policy and monitoring programmes 
by the Ministry of Education in determining decile rankings for schools receiving government funding 
in developing the New Zealand Deprivation Index 
for research and planning by central and local government agencies.

22. 2013 Census Products and Services
Over 40 products released
New product: Ethnic group profiles
Different ways to visualise the data
Infographic: People aged 65+
Responding to topical issues
QuickStats about greater Chch
Commuting patterns in Auckland
Living outside the norm
Overall the census team produced a successful suite of products and services from the 2013 Census. The number of products released was greater than planned, with all products released as per the schedule. In addition, users were provided customised data which met expectations for timeliness and quality.
The census is the one of the only Statistics NZ datasets that contributes to outputs providing complete coverage of products across the customer segmentation model, for customers at all levels of analytical capability. Products recommended to be retained in their current format cover the spectrum of products for different customers (eg from iwi profiles and other summary reports to the meshblock dataset).
We produced more than 40 products and services after the 2013 Census.
This a significant increase in number and scope compared with those from the 2006 Census, helped largely by extensive input from customers of census data.
The scope of information we published from the 2013 Census was larger:
Infographic products
‘QuickStats about a subject’ topics including areas such as greater Christchurch
New products:
reports Commuting patterns in Auckland and Living outside the norm: An analysis of people living in temporary and communal dwellings, 2013 Census
In addition, users were provided customised data which met expectations for timeliness and quality.

23. 2018 Census Data Releases 2019 First Release of Data
Population and occupied dwelling counts
Second Release of Data
Prioritised topic content
Customised data requests
Electorates Announced
Working with Electoral Commission and LINZ to confirm date
2019
Phased Release of Products
Free Products
- Tabular
Profiles
Maps
Microdata
Metadata
First release:
First release of data. This release will include
population and occupied dwelling counts at the national level, regional council, territorial authority, local boards, and the new statistical area level 2 (SA2) level geography, including changes since the last
The first release responds to customer needs for early census data and also acts as a thank-you to the public for their contribution.
Second release:
Prioritised topic content.
Customised data requests can be run. We will work with customers from mid-2018 to formulate their requests
Late 2018 or early 2019:
General and Māori electorates announced.
We are working with the Electoral Commission and Land Information New Zealand to confirm the date the Government Statistician can announce the number of general and Māori electorates.
2019:
Phased release of products.
We will release 2018 Census data in several free products throughout 2019, based on the needs of our customers.
These products will include
-tabular products
-profiles about places and people
-visualizations and maps
-microdata products that can be accessed in the Stats NZ Data Lab.
-Metadata products that help with interpreting data will also be available.
The product schedule will enable some flexibility to enable us to be responsive to changing customer needs and technical innovations.
We will support the release of products with online and face to face customer engagements throughout the publication process.

24. 2013 Census Products and Services Review
Areas for improvement:
• Better integration between products with overviews, tables, and metadata
• Data customers can customize themselves
• Improved accessibility to a wider range of data
• Better interactive mapping
While improvements were suggested for a number of products, users highlighted a particular need for improvements to two specific products: NZ.Stat and StatsMaps. In both cases, customers wanted to interact more with the data, eg define their own variables in tables (NZ.Stat), and select multiple areas to compare in a map (StatsMaps). Both products are corporate tools – they were developed and driven by Statistics NZ projects outside of census, and included data from other parts of the department.

25. Summary of Products & Services Engagement during 2018
Phase 1
Feb
• Determine if proposed Products & Services mix meets customer needs
• Outline process for product development and dissemination
• Identify customers’ planned uses of 2018 Census data
Phase 2
May
• Determine information / data needs for new census topics
• Identify gaps and determine priorities for targeted engagement around specific topic areas
Phase 3
June, ongoing
• Ensure content development is meeting customer needs
• Engagement connected to audience the product is being produced for
• Opportunity to discuss how products will be presented via the website
Phase 1 of our Products & Services Engagement, which we’ve just described the purpose and content for. (fix wording)
Phase 2 will be timed from May, the engagement focus is on:
Targeted engagement around data / information needs for new content & topical areas - e.g. disability, housing, transport, migration - opportunity to coordinate with community engagement leads to go back to community  influencers and discuss information needs and the best ways to ensure accessibility to data coming out of the 2018 Census
Phase 3 will be held ongoing from June, the engagement focus is on:
Opportunity to engage: - when gaps / questions emerge during detailed content development - about functionality, accessibility, website implementation & presentation of products (including mapping & data visualisation) Targeted engagement, as required, around specific products - eg. iwi profiles

26. Useful resources http://archive.stats.govt.nz/Census
Changes and how they might affect data
Proposed products and services
Design of forms
Sex, gender, and sexual orientation
A modernised, digital-first census
New stats website for latest reports on census information
Information on previous censuses available on our old website
For those interested on how NZ as a country is tracking against other OECD countries, the OECD Better Life Index is a great resource that uses statistical data from Stats NZ and statistical offices from around the world.

27. Useful resources Stats Infoline: all data requests and enquiries
Customer Relations Team:
Coordinating all census data enquires
National external engagement
External customer engagement (data users)

28. Questions? Contact us census.external.relations@stats.govt.nz

29. Thank you