Definitions and Questionnaires 2001

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Chapter 5:
Dwelling definitions
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Dwelling
A dwelling is any building or structure, or part thereof, that is used (or intended to be used) for the purpose of human habitation. It can be of a permanent or temporary nature and includes structures such as motels, hotels, prisons, motor homes, huts, and tents. At the highest level, dwellings are classified as private or non-private.

A private dwelling accommodates a person or a group of people, but is not available to the public. A private dwelling may be permanent or temporary. Permanent private dwellings include houses and flats, residences attached to a business or institution, and baches, cribs and huts. Caravans, cabins, tents and other makeshift dwellings that are the principal or usual residence of households are classified as temporary private dwellings.

All other dwellings, used for human habitation (or intended to be used), are non-private and are available to the public. They may be available for use generally, or by virtue of occupation or study, special needs, or legal requirements, ie prisons. Such dwellings may have facilities (such as a dining room) that are for shared use.

Dwelling occupancy status
Dwelling occupancy status is the variable that classifies all dwellings according to whether they were occupied or not and why they were unoccupied on the date of the census.

For the census a dwelling is defined as occupied if it is:

• occupied at midnight on the date of the census, or
• occupied at any time during the 12 hours following midnight, on the night of the census unless the occupant(s) completed a questionnaire at another dwelling during this period.

Dwelling type
Dwelling type classifies dwellings according to their structure, location and function.

Dwelling under construction
All houses, flats, groups or blocks of flats being built.

Fuel types used to heat dwelling
Fuel types used to heat dwelling measures the type of fuel used to heat an occupied private dwelling. More than one fuel type may be used to heat the dwelling. Fuel type examples are electricity, coal, wood, etc. Insulation is not a fuel type.

Non-private dwelling
Non-private dwellings are available to the public. They may be available for use generally, or by virtue of occupation or study, special need, or legal requirement. Such dwellings may have facilities (such as a dining room) that are for shared use. These dwellings include: hotels and motels; guest houses and boarding houses; hostels; public and private hospitals; homes for the elderly; educational, welfare, religious and charitable institutions; prisons and penal institutions; defence establishments; work camps, staff quarters and seasonal quarters; motor camps; and other communal dwellings. Private residences that are attached to non-private dwellings are, however, considered to be separate private dwellings.

Number of bedrooms
A bedroom is defined as a room in a dwelling which is used, or intended for sleeping in.

The following rules apply:

• A room is considered to be a bedroom if it is furnished as a bedroom even if it is not being used at the time of the census. A room furnished as a bedroom should include a sleeping facility such as a bed or mattress, and could include items such as a dresser and chest of drawers.
• Room equivalents should not be counted for one-roomed dwellings (ie bed-sitting room). A one-roomed dwelling should be counted as having one bedroom and therefore one total room.
• A sleepout adjacent to a private dwelling should be counted as a bedroom if it is used and/or furnished as a bedroom and is occupied by members of the same household as occupy the dwelling.
• A caravan adjacent to a private dwelling should be counted as a bedroom only if it is used as a bedroom and is occupied by members of the same household as occupy the dwelling.
• A room (such as a living room) that is used as a bedroom at night, either short-term or long-term, should not be counted as a bedroom unless the only bedroom facilities in the dwelling are in that room. If the only bedroom facilities in a dwelling are in a room that is also used for another purpose (ie in a living room), this room should be counted as a bedroom.

Number of occupants
Number of occupants on census night is the number of people who are present in a particular dwelling on the designated census night and who complete a census individual form at that dwelling.

Number of occupants on census night therefore includes:

• people who usually live in the dwelling and are present at the time of the census
• people who usually reside overseas but are present in the dwelling at the time of the census
• people who usually reside elsewhere in New Zealand, but are present in the dwelling at the time of the census.

Number of occupants on census night excludes:

• people who usually live in the dwelling but are absent at the time of the census.

Number of rooms
A room is defined as a space in a dwelling which is used, or intended for habitation, and is enclosed by walls reaching from the floor to the ceiling or roof covering. Service areas are excluded.

The total number of rooms includes habitable spaces such as bedrooms, kitchens, dining rooms, living rooms, lounge rooms, studies, games rooms, studios, hobby rooms, habitable cellars and attics. However, service areas such as pantries, hallways, spa-rooms, walk-in wardrobes, corridors, verandahs, garages, laundries, toilets and bathrooms should not be counted as rooms.

If a dwelling is built in an open-plan style, then room equivalents should be counted as if they had walls between them.

Room equivalents should not be counted for one roomed dwellings (ie bed-sitting rooms). A one-roomed dwelling should be counted as having one room only.

Ideally, habitable rooms should be at least two metres in height and of at least four square metres in area. However, due to operational difficulties this is not a critical requirement. Service areas are excluded from the count of rooms even if they meet the criteria concerning walls and floor space.

Occupied dwelling
For the census a dwelling is defined as occupied if it is:

• occupied at midnight on the night of the census, or
• occupied at any time during the 12 hours following midnight on the night of the census unless the occupant(s) completed a questionnaire at another dwelling during that period.

Permanent private dwelling
A permanent private dwelling is any private dwelling that is both fixed in location and of durable or permanent construction.

Private dwelling
A private dwelling accommodates a person or a group of people, but is not available to the public.

Private dwellings include: houses, flats, and apartments; residences attached to a business or institutions; baches, cribs, and holiday homes; and dwellings of the above types that are under construction. Garages; caravans, cabins and tents; vehicles; and vessels are also included.

Exclusions: a private dwelling with five or more boarders or lodgers, which should be classified as a boarding house.

Temporary private dwelling
Caravans, cabins, tents and other makeshift dwellings that are the principal or usual residence of households are classified as temporary private dwellings, whether they are occupied or unoccupied. Park benches and other types of improvised shelter are counted as a dwelling if they are occupied by a person on census night.

Unoccupied dwelling
A dwelling is defined as unoccupied if it is:

• unoccupied at all times during the 12 hours following midnight on the night of the census, and
• suitable for habitation.