Affiliations: Statistics New Zealand, Christchurch, New Zealand. E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: While the importance and high value of census and
population statistics is well recognised in New Zealand, there are pressures
on the sustainability of the current 5 yearly census model. In response to
these pressures and to new opportunities, Statistics NZ has developed a
census transformation strategy to shape the future direction of
census-taking in New Zealand. The strategy consists of two parallel strands:
a short to medium term focus on modernising the current full enumeration
census; and investigating the feasibility of producing census information
from administrative data sources in the longer-term. We contrast the
administrative data available in New Zealand with those typically found in
countries that have moved to register-based censuses. The paper provides
early results for population estimates constructed from the linked
administrative sources available at present, and outlines the approaches
being taken to improve the quality of statistical outputs derived from
administrative data.
Keywords: Census, administrative data, population estimation