General Social Survey target population

The target population for the NZGSS is the usually resident population aged 15 years and over in private dwellings in the North Island, South Island, or Waiheke Island of New Zealand. The target population includes:

• New Zealand usual residents temporarily overseas
• New Zealand usual residents temporarily staying elsewhere in New Zealand (including other permanent and temporary private dwellings, institutions, and non - private dwellings; and people who have no fixed abode, but were found in private dwellings on the household enumeration date)
• people in the New Zealand armed forces if they reside in a private dwelling
• young adults at boarding schools (young adults who fall into this category are not surveyed in the personal questionnaire, but are included as members of the household in the household questionnaire).

The target population excludes:

• overseas visitors and international students who expect to be resident in New Zealand for less than 12 months
• people living in non-private dwellings such as hotels, motels, boarding houses, hostels, and homes for the elderly
• patients in hospitals, or residents of psychiatric and penal institutions
• people living on offshore islands (excluding Waiheke Island)
• members of the non-New Zealand armed forces and their dependents
• non-New Zealand diplomats or diplomatic staff members and their dependents
• New Zealand usual residents temporarily overseas who don't return within the survey period
• New Zealand usual residents temporarily staying elsewhere in New Zealand (including other permanent and temporary private dwellings, institutions, and non - private dwellings; and people who have no fixed abode, but stay at private dwellings) who don't return within the survey period
• New Zealand usual residents who live in remote areas that are costly or difficult to access .