Post Enumeration Survey (PES) (Census 96) (1996 Census of Population and Dwellings) - Hot Off The Press
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Acting Government Statistician Ian Ewing said this result compared favourably with censuses in other countries. In Australia 1.6 per cent of the population was missed in their 1996 Census, 1.6 per cent in the US 1990 Census and 1.9 per cent in the UK 1991 Census.

In the survey, known as a Post Enumeration Survey, Statistics New Zealand interviewed a random sample of 25,000 people to see if they had been counted on census night. It was the first time such a survey had been undertaken in New Zealand.

"The co-operation and support of the public at the time of the census on 5 March 1996 has contributed to the very low undercount, but it is inevitable that in an exercise of the scale of the census some people will be missed," said Mr Ewing.

The survey also found that the census missed more men than women. The undercount was 1.4 per cent for males and 1.0 per cent for females. Analysis by age indicates that young adults (aged 15-29 years), who are generally quite mobile, had an undercount of 2.1 per cent. For children under 15 years the undercount was 1.4 per cent and for those aged 45 years and over, only 0.6 per cent. This pattern was consistent with overseas findings he said.

The undercount for the Maori population was 2.9 per cent, for the Pacific Island population 3.1 per cent and for the rest of the population (predominantly European) 0.8 per cent.

There was some regional variation. The northern half of the North Island had a net undercount of 1.3 per cent, compared with 1.0 per cent for the rest of the North Island. The South Island was more completely enumerated, with a 0.8 per cent undercount.

Ian Ewing
ACTING GOVERNMENT STATISTICIAN
25 June 1997

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Published 25 June 1997