Families and Households (Census 96) 1996

A full list of the definitions and terms used in the 1996 Census of Population and Dwellings is contained in the report An Introduction to the Census of Population and Dwellings. Refer to Statistics New Zealand for a complete list of concepts, definitions and classifications.

Absentee
Access to a telephone
Adult child
Age
Child
Couple
A couple consists of two people who usually reside together and are legally married, or two people who are living together as partners. Couples can be either opposite-sex, or same sex.
De facto marriage
Dependent child
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, temporary or even mobile nature and includes structures such as motels, hotels, hospitals, 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. Included are: houses, flats, and apartments; residences attached to a business or institution; baches, cribs and huts; garages; caravans, cabins and tents; vehicles; vessels; or dwellings of the above types that are under construction.

All other dwellings are non-private and are available to the public. They may be available for use either generally, or by virtue of occupation or study, special need, or legal requirement. Such dwellings may have facilities (such as a dining room) which 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. If this type of accommodation includes units that are designed for the exclusive use (temporarily) of one or more people, the units are considered to be part of the non-private dwelling and not separate non-private dwellings. Private residences that are attached to non-private dwellings are, however, considered to be separate private dwellings.
Economic family
Ethnicity
Extended family
Familial relationship
Family nucleus
A family nucleus consists of two or more people, who are members of the same household, and who comprise either a couple, or at least one parent role/child relationship, or both.

All people in a household under the age of 18 who are not employed full-time are classified as a child in a family nucleus in that household except when they have a partner or child (or children) of their own in the household or do not usually reside with the members of that household.

Note: For this definition, the term "family nucleus" is used to clarify the specific type of family group that is being referred to. In the family classifications, the term "family" is used as an abbreviation of "family nucleus".
Family type
Family type differentiates family nuclei according to the presence or absence of couples, parents and children.
Household
Household characteristics
Household composition
Income (total income)
Labour force
Labour force status
Living arrangements
Marital status
Motor vehicles
New Zealand
Never married
Non-private dwelling
Number of children
Number of inmates or guest occupants
Number of occupants
Occupation
Parent role
Partner
Permanent private dwelling
Population resident in New Zealand
Private dwelling
A private dwelling is any building or structure that is used (or intended to be used) for the purpose of human habitation, but is not available to the public, A private dwelling (either permanent or temporary) accommodates a person or a group of persons. Included are: houses, flats, and apartments; residences attached to a business or institution; baches, cribs and huts; garages; caravans, cabins and tents; vehicles; vessels; or dwellings of the above types that are under construction. Refer definition of Dwelling.

Registered marriage
A registered marriage is one for which a marriage certificate has been signed legalising the marriage of two people of the opposite sex. People who are "legally married" have signed a marriage certificate that is valid at the time of the survey.

Religious affiliation
Remarried
Resident population
Resident population refers to all people counted during a census who usually live in New Zealand excluding people who usually live overseas and New Zealand residents overseas.
Rural areas
Rural centres
Same-sex partners
Sector of landlord
Separated
Sex
Temporarily absent (household and family statistics)
Temporary private dwelling
Tenure of dwelling
Total household income
Total population
Unemployed and seeking work
Urban areas
Visitor
Widowed