Quality Statement

Label
Census night address - 2023 Census: Information by concept en-NZ
Definition

Census night address is the physical location of the dwelling where a person was located on census night. For passengers on overnight trains and buses, the recommended census night address is the destination of the passenger.

en-NZ
Overall quality rating

Moderate quality
Data quality processes section below has more detail on the rating.

en-NZ
Priority level

Priority level 1
A priority level is assigned to all census concepts: priority 1, 2, or 3 (with 1 being highest and 3 being the lowest priority).
Census night address is a priority 1 concept. Priority 1 concepts are core census concepts that have the highest priority in terms of quality, time, and resources across all phases of a census.

The census priority level for census night address remains the same as 2018.

The 2023 Census: Final content report has more information on priority ratings for census concepts.

en-NZ
Subject population

Census night population count
‘Subject population’ means the people, families, households, or dwellings that the variable applies to.

en-NZ
How this data is classified

Census night address data is classified using the one-level flat meshblock classification consisting of seven-digit standard meshblock codes. Follow this link to examine the classification and find more detailed information:

Meshblock 2023 V1.0.0

Meshblocks are the smallest geographic unit used by Stats NZ. Meshblocks vary in size from part of a city block to large areas of rural land. Each meshblock borders on another to form a network covering all of New Zealand, including coasts and inlets and extending out to the 200-mile economic zone (approximately 320 kilometres).

Meshblocks aggregate to build larger geographic areas, such as statistical areas, territorial authorities, regional councils, and local boards.

Address information (street number, name, and type; suburb or rural locality; and city, town, or district) is used to place a person into the classification.

Standards and classifications has more information on what classifications are, how they are reviewed, where they are stored, and to provide feedback on them.

en-NZ
Question format

Census night address data is collected from the individual form (question 7 paper form), the online household set-up, and question 1 of the paper dwelling form.

There were differences in question layout, and the way a person could respond between the modes of collection (online and paper forms).

On the online form:

  • access codes were pre-populated with address information
  • if a respondent’s census night address was different to the pre-populated address, they could complete new address information with the help of an as-you-type list which provided auto suggestions.

On the paper form:

  • respondents could write in their census night address, or alternatively tick a box to indicate if their census night address was the same as the address where they usually live.
  • non-response was possible.

Data from the online forms may therefore be of higher overall quality than data from paper forms. However, processing checks and edits were in place to improve the quality of the paper forms.

Stats NZ Store House has samples for both the individual and dwelling paper forms.

en-NZ
Examples of how this data is used

Data-use outside Stats NZ:

  • to understand populations for infrastructure and service provision (such as roading or public transport), especially in areas with high numbers of visitors or tourists.
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Data sources

Alternative data sources were used for missing census responses and responses that could not be classified or did not provide the type of information asked for. The table below shows the distribution of data sources for census night address data.

Data sources for census night address data, as a percentage of census night population count, 2023 Census
Source of census night address data Percent
2023 Census response 89.2
 2023 Census form 86.6
 2023 Census individual variable sourced from dwelling/household set-up form 2.6
Historical census 0.0
Admin data 4.1
Deterministic derivation 0.0
Statistical imputation 6.7
 CANCEIS(1) donor's response sourced from 2023 Census form 5.8
 CANCEIS donor's response sourced from 2023 Census dwelling/household set-up form 0.4
 CANCEIS donor's response sourced from admin data 0.5
No information 0.0
Total 100.0
1. CANCEIS = imputation based on CANadian Census Edit and Imputation System

Note: Due to rounding, individual figures may not always sum to the stated total(s) or score contributions.


Statistical imputation was used for records that were coded to a residual category.

The following admin data sources were then used to fill missing responses:
  • New Zealand Transport Agency
  • Ministry of Social Development
  • Ministry of Health
  • Ministry of Education
  • Inland Revenue
  • Accident Compensation Corporation
  • Kāinga Ora
  • Department of Internal Affairs
  • Department of Corrections.

Editing, data sources, and imputation in the 2023 Census describes how data quality is improved by editing and how missing and residual responses are filled with alternative data sources (admin data and historical census responses) or statistical imputation. The paper also describes the use of CANCEIS (the CANadian Census Editing and Imputation System) which is used to perform imputation. This webpage also contains a spreadsheet that provides additional detail on the admin data sources.

en-NZ
Missing and residual responses

Missing and residual responses represent data gaps where respondents either did not provide answers (missing responses) or provided answers that were not valid (residual responses).

There is no ’Not stated’ or residual category for the census night address. Alternative data sources have been used to fill missing and residual responses in the 2023 and 2018 Censuses.

In the 2013 Census, all received forms included a meshblock code filled in by the collector who dropped off the forms. When a respondent did not answer the question, the census night address was taken to be the form’s meshblock code.

en-NZ
Data quality processes

Overall quality rating: Moderate
Data has been evaluated to assess whether it meets quality standards and is suitable for use.

Three quality metrics contribute to the overall quality rating:

  • data sources and coverage
  • consistency and coherence
  • accuracy of responses.

The lowest rated metric determines the overall quality rating.

Data quality assurance in the 2023 Census provides more information on the quality rating scale.

Data sources and coverage: High quality
The quality of all the data sources that contribute to the output for the variable were assessed. To calculate the data sources and coverage quality score for a variable, each data source is rated and multiplied by the proportion it contributes to the total output.

The rating for a valid census response is defined as 1.00. Ratings for other sources are the best estimates available of their quality relative to a census response. Each source that contributes to the output for that variable is then multiplied by the proportion it contributes to the total output. The total score then determines the metric rating according to the following range:

  • 0.98–1.00 = very high
  • 0.95–<0.98 = high
  • 0.90–<0.95 = moderate
  • 0.75–<0.90 = poor
  • <0.75 = very poor.

The high proportion of data received from the 2023 Census forms, alongside the high quality of the alternative data sources, resulted in a score of 0.97, leading to the quality rating of high.

Data sources and coverage rating calculation for census night address data, census night population count, 2023 Census
Source of census night address data Rating Percent Score contribution
2023 Census response 1.00 89.20 0.89
Admin data 0.80 4.14 0.03
CANCEIS(1) nearest neighbour imputation 0.60 6.66 0.04
No information 0.00 0.00 0.00
Total 100.00 0.97
1. CANCEIS = imputation based on CANadian Census Edit and Imputation System
Note: Due to rounding, individual figures may not always sum to stated total(s) or score contributions.

Consistency and coherence: Moderate quality
Census night address data is mostly consistent with expectations across consistency checks. There is an overall difference in the data compared with expectations and benchmarks, which can be explained through a combination of real-world change, incorporation of other sources of data, or a change in how the variable has been collected.

The census night address data shows decreases in counts in some statistical area 2 and territorial authority local board levels which are in line with population changes and levels of international migration as a result of COVID-19 pandemic and international travel restrictions. COVID-19 also brought about greater opportunities for people to work and study remotely.

Accuracy of responses: High quality
Census night address data has only minor data quality issues. The quality of coding and responses within classification categories is high. Any issues with the variable appear in a low number of cases (typically in the low hundreds).

en-NZ
Recommendations for use and further information

Census night address data can be used in a comparable manner to the 2013 and 2018 Censuses.

When using this data, be aware of the following:

  • At the regional council level and below, some regions with a lower census response rate may have lower data quality.
  • Data at the statistical area 2 (SA2) level for areas affected by Cyclone Gabrielle shows localised population decreases that are outside of expectations and should be treated with caution.
  • The census night address for records that were admin enumerated is their usual residence. Overseas visitors who did not respond to the census are not admin enumerated.
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Information by variables from previous censuses

To assess how this concept aligns with the variables from the previous census, use the links:

Contact our Information centre for further information about using this concept.

en-NZ

Information

History

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Revision Date Responsibility Rationale
26 26/09/2024 11:33:54 AM
25 26/09/2024 10:00:56 AM