Religious affiliation - total responses (iwi estimates)

Variable Description

Name

i_relig_common_recode ^en-NZ

Label

Religious affiliation - total responses (iwi estimates) ^en-NZ

Description

Religious affiliation is the self-identified association of a person with a religion, denomination, or sub-denominational religious group.

A religion is a set of beliefs and practices that usually involves acknowledging a higher power, and guides people’s conduct and morals. Religious affiliation can have multiple responses as people may have affiliation with more than one religion or denomination.

A denomination is a subgroup of a religion. For example, Roman Catholic is a Christian denomination.

Note: the 'object to answer' category is within the residual categories but is a valid response.

See Ariā for the Census Religious affiliation recode - common religions V1.0.0 classification

^en-NZ

Other Variable Information

Quality information for religious affiliation in the 2018 iwi affiliation estimated counts dataset

Quality rating: Moderate to poor quality

For many purposes, the 2018 iwi estimates provide a more relevant and up-to-date picture than continued use of 2013 Census iwi data. These iwi estimates are not official 2018 Census counts and the quality ranges from moderate to poor depending on how the data is used. It is difficult to understand changes occurring for an iwi over time for the population count as well as across characteristics due to differences between the 2018 and 2013 Censuses:

• Counts for the overall Māori descent population are substantially higher in 2018, reflecting improvements in the quality of Māori descent population counts in the 2018 Census as well as natural population change (births, deaths, migration). Māori descent – Information by Variable 2018 provides more information on the changes in the Māori descent population.

• Changes were made to the collection of iwi data in the 2018 Census, for example changes to the online form, and in 2017 there was a substantial review of the iwi classification with 32 iwi being added to the classification.

• There may also be a combination of real-world and methodological change at the characteristic level.

Producing estimates for the characteristics of an iwi is lower quality than we would expect from a census due to the high level of non-response. This is particularly the case when estimating the size of very small groups (e.g. <100).

The table below shows the contribution of data sources for the religious affiliation variable released in the 2018 iwi affiliation estimates counts dataset.

Data sources for religious affiliation - 2018 iwi estimated counts population
Source	Percent
2018 Census response	70.4 percent
2013 Census response	11.0 percent
Administrative data	0.0 percent
Statistical imputation	2.8 percent
No information	0.0 percent
Weighting	15.8 percent
Total	100.0 percent
_{Due to rounding, individual figures may not always sum to the stated total(s)}

Please note that the percentage of data sourced from the 2013 Census or statistical imputation varies across religious groups. In particular we note that there is a significantly higher use of 2013 Census data and imputation for counts of the following common religions compared to other religious groups:

• Ratana (common religions code 13)

• Ringatū (common religions code 14)

• Other Māori religions, beliefs and philosophies (common religions code 15) These estimates should be treated with caution.

Further information on the 2018 iwi affiliation estimated counts dataset

2018 Iwi Affiliation Estimated Counts – DataInfo+ provides detailed information on the quality of the 2018 Iwi Affiliation Estimated Counts dataset.

Methodology for the 2018 iwi affiliation estimated counts provides detailed methodology for the 2018 iwi affiliation estimated counts.

Strengths and limitations of 2018 iwi affiliation estimated counts provides high level guidance on using the 2018 Iwi Affiliation Estimates Counts.

Iwi affiliation (estimated counts): 2018 data sources and quality by iwi provides estimated counts quality information by iwi.

Further information on the religious affiliation variable in the 2018 Census

Religious affiliation – Information by Variable (2018 Census) provides a more detailed summary of the differences between the 2013 Census and 2018 Census questionnaires and the quality of the 2018 Census religious affiliation counts. However, the quality rating provided in the 2018 document does not apply to the religious affiliation variable in the iwi estimated counts dataset.

2018 Census External Data Quality Panel: Assessment of variables provides quality information on religious affiliation and other variables measured in the 2018 Census.

Stats NZ Store House provides samples for both the 2018 individual and dwelling census paper forms.

This variable is not part of a dataset.