Review of the Measurement of Ethnicity
Contents
Introduction
Future developments
Report of the Review of the Measurement of Ethnicity June 2004
Papers
Newsletter- latest newsletter now available
Terms
Contact information
Introduction
Statistics New Zealand has recently completed a review of the measurement of ethnicity.
The main findings of the review are:
- the continued need for collection of detailed ethnicity data
- that ethnicity be measured in a consistent way across all official statistics
- that the 2006 Census use the same ethnicity question as that used in the 2001 Census
- that Statistics New Zealand continue to educate respondents, users and producers of ethnicity data about the concept of ethnicity
- that a comprehensive programme of research into the measurement of ethnicity in official statistics be completed by the end of 2009
- that all collections of official statistics measuring ethnicity should have the capacity to record multiple ethnicity responses
- that the method of reporting ethnicity in all collections of official statistics be self-identification
- that the response 'New Zealander', 'Kiwi' and like responses be separately coded
- the practice of prioritising ethnic group responses to one per individual will be discontinued'.
Since the last review of ethnic statistics in 1988 there have been changes in New Zealand society, the requirements of users and the collection of ethnicity data by other agencies. Consequently there was a need to re-examine both the concepts and classifications of ethnicity. The aim of the review was to produce a measure that is relevant to users and the public as suppliers of this information.
Every effort will be made to contact those who made submissions to make them aware of the outcome of the review and thank them again for their input.
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Future developments
An implementation programme will begin shortly. Statistics New Zealand will be making a paper available to users, to support them in the use of single and combination and total response output and aid decision making about which is appropriate. The paper will be posted on this site. The research phase will follow.
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Papers
The downloadable files below are in Adobe Acrobat format. If you do not have the Adobe Acrobat Reader you may download the reader to view or print the contents of these files. If you do not have access to Excel 97 or higher you may use the Excel file viewer to view, print and export the contents of the following file.
Report of the Review of the Measurement of Ethnicity June 2004 |
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Newsletter |
 (176Kb)
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Previous Newsletters |  (208Kb) (198KB) (462Kb) |
Measuring ethnicity in the
New Zealand Population Census
February 2002 |
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For an overview see Change in ethnicity question
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A question of ethnicity —
one word, different people, many perceptions: The perspectives of groups other than Mäori, Pacific peoples, and
New Zealand Europeans
November 2001 |
To view the Executive summary: A question of ethnicity — one word, different people, many perceptions: The perspectives of groups other than Mäori, Pacific peoples, and New Zealand Europeans or download the Main Paper:
 (276Kb) |
Ethnicity Matters:
Mäori Perspectives
September 2001
Ko ngä Take e Pä ana ki te Karangatanga Tangata:
He Körero mö tä te Mäori Titiro |
To view the Executive summary: Ethnicity Matters Mäori Perspective or download the Main Paper:
 (502Kb)
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International Concepts and Classifications
September 2001 |
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The definition and measurement of ethnicity: A Pacific perspective October 2001 |
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Classification and Issues September 2001 |
To view the or download the Main Paper:
 (264Kb)
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Policy Perspectives paper July 2001 |
To view the Executive summary: Policy Perspectives paper or download the Main Paper:
 (138Kb) |
Comparison of the measurement of ethnicity in Australia and New Zealand July 2001 |
To view the Executive summary: Comparison of the measurement of ethnicity in Australia and New Zealand
or download the Main Paper:
 (242Kb) |
Background paper February 2001 |
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Terms
These are the guidelines which the review team worked within.
- To evaluate the concepts of ethnicity that are used in official social statistics.
- To define and categorise 'ethnicity', after exploring its association with variables such as nationality, 'race', ancestry, identity, and citizenship.
- To produce a revised statistical standard for ethnicity, and for any applications of it, such as prioritisation and measuring strength of identity.
- To take account of the need for the standard to measure all ethnic groups currently in New Zealand, and be robust enough to measure new groups arriving in the next ten years.
- To obtain a balance between the need for contemporary relevance and historical continuity.
- To produce a report for the Government Statistician, which contains recommendations on the measurement of ethnicity for at least the next ten years.
- To produce a plan for implementing the review's recommendations, across all official social statistics.
- To carry out the project with regard to Statistics New Zealand's commitment to the Crown's obligation to Mäori under the Treaty of Waitangi.
- To complete the review by mid-2002, so as to contribute to the development of the 2006 Census of Population
Contact Information
For more information regarding the project, please contact by email or phone
Deborah Potter - Deborah.Potter@stats.govt.nz or (04) 931 4324
Jo-anne Allan - Jo-anne.Allan@stats.govt.nz or (03) 964 8958
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For enquiries and information requests
This page last modified on: 27 July 2004