Where next
The Social Report 2001 was intended as the first step in an ongoing indicators programme where reports are published at regular intervals. This update represents the next step in that programme by ensuring that information from The Social Report is kept up to date and is widely available. In this, The Social Report differs from previous social reporting initiatives of this kind undertaken in New Zealand, which have not been sustained over a long period.
The 2002 update of The Social Report represents a commitment to providing contemporary information on social outcomes on a regular basis. The frequency with which a full Social Report should be published, however, remains a matter for consideration. Much of New Zealand's most important data comes from surveys that are only carried out every three or five years, limiting the usefulness of an annual report. Many social changes also happen relatively slowly and trends may not be apparent in annual reports. On the other hand, reports should also contain data about the contemporary situation rather than historical data, and it is important that social indicators are produced on a regular and timely basis if they are to complement New Zealand's existing economic indicators.
In late 2001, the Ministry of Social Policy conducted a review of The Social Report. This review involved consultation with a range of different groups in the community. Feedback from the review will inform the development of the next full Social Report, which is due to be published in mid-2003. In the meantime, further comments on The Social Report from groups and individuals are welcomed. Comments can be made to:
The Social Report Project Manager
Ministry of Social Development
PO Box 1556
Wellington 6140
e-mail: socialreport@msd.govt.nz
Back to TopEndnotes
Introduction
Health
Knowledge and Skills
Safety and Security
Paid Work
Human Rights
Culture and Identity
Economic Standard of Living
Social Connectedness
The Environment
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Selected International Social Indicator Reports
Country/International Agency |
Year begun |
Periodicity |
Name of Report |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 1994 | annual | Social Trends |
| Austria | 1977 | 4-5 yrs | Sozialstatische Daten |
| Canada | 1996 | quarterly | Canadian Social Trends |
| Denmark | 1976 | 4 yrs | Leveevikar I Danmark |
| Eurostat | 1977 | 3 yrs | Social Indicators for the European Community |
| Germany | 1983 | 2 yrs | Datenreport |
| France | 1973 | 3 yrs | Donnees Sociales |
| Great Britain | 1970 | annual | Social Trends |
| Latin Americas (UNECLA) | 1992 | annual | Social Panorama |
| Netherlands | 1974 | 2 yrs | Social and Cultural Report |
| Norway | 1974 | 3-4 yrs | Sosalt Utsyn |
| OECD | 1986 | One-off | Living Conditions in OECD countries |
| OECD | Due 2001 | Society at a Glance | |
| UNDevProgram | 1990 | annual | Human Development Report |
| World Bank | 1978 | annual | World Development Report |
| World Bank | 1987 | annual | Social Indicators of Development |
Technical Details
Health
H1 Life expectancy at birth
Definition/formulae: The expected number of years a hypothetical newborn male or female would live if they were subject throughout their lives to the age-specific mortality patterns prevailing over a three-year period centred on their birth year.The analysis associating life expectancy with levels of deprivation is based on NZDep96, a small area index of deprivation based on a principal component analysis of nine socioeconomic variables from the 1996 Census. The index has been converted to a scale ranging from 1 to 10, where 1 represents the least deprived 10 per cent of small areas, and 10 represents the most deprived 10 per cent. The small areas are about the size of a census meshblock and have populations of at least 100 people.
Limitations of data: Available annually from abridged life tables for the total population only. Māori/non-Māori data only available five-yearly from complete life tables based on three-year period around census years. From 1995-97, comparability with earlier years is affected by a change in the population concept (from de facto to resident), and a substantial change in the ethnicity classification.
Data sources: Statistics New Zealand (2001) New Zealand Life Tables 1995-97; Abridged Life Tables 1999-2000; Demographic Trends 2001, Table 4.12; Ministry of Health (1999) Our Health, Our Future: Hauora Pakari, Koiora Roa, The Health of New Zealanders 1999 (Chapter 2).
H2 Dependent disability
Definition/formulae: The proportion (per 1,000) of the population who have one or more disabilities and require assistance, as measured in the New Zealand Disability Surveys of 1996 and 1997. Dependent disability includes those with a functional and/or role limitation who require assistance from another person or from a complex assistive device over a period of at least six months. Adults were classified as disabled based on their response to a series of questions that assessed difficulties undertaking daily activities. A slightly different definition based on specific chronic conditions and education or other support needs was employed to determine disability among children. Age-standardised disability rates (based on Segi's world population) are used to compare Māori and non-Māori disability prevalence.
Limitations of data: Results for adults and children are not strictly comparable due to differences in the definition of disability, and the prevalence of disability in children may be overstated relative to that of adults.
Data sources: New Zealand Disability Surveys, 1996, 1997, as cited in Ministry of Health (1999) Our Health, Our Future: Hauora Pakari, Koiora Roa, The Health of New Zealanders 1999 (Chapter 5).
H3 Independent life expectancy
Definition/formulae: The total number of years a person can expect to live without any self-reported functional limitation requiring the assistance of another person or a complex assistive device.
Limitations of data: This measure is currently available for one year only. The ability to monitor ILE on a regular basis depends on the availability of information about disability and levels of disability.Independent life expectancy has inherent limitations as a population health indicator. An indicator that included all levels of disability - not just a single dependency threshold - would provide a more precise measure of health (that is, a disability adjusted life expectancy). The social preferences (disability weights) needed to construct such an indicator are still under development in New Zealand .
Data sources: Ministry of Health/Statistics New Zealand, The 1996-97 New Zealand Disability Surveys; Statistics New Zealand, New Zealand Life Tables 1995-97; Ministry of Health (1999) Our Health, Our Future: Hauora Pakari, Koiora Roa;. The Health of New Zealanders 1999; "The Health of New Zealanders in Brief", and Chapter 7.
H4 Youth suicide
Definition/formulae: The number of suicide deaths of persons aged 15-24 per 100,000 population aged 15-24, for calendar years.
Limitations of data: Because suicide is a relatively rare event in statistical terms, rates of suicide can vary markedly from year to year. Any interpretation of trends requires an examination of rates over several years. Data on the rates of suicide for geographical regions and cities may be of little value for reporting comparisons because of the low numbers, and hence highly variable suicide rates. For example, where populations are small, the rate of suicide can be greatly inflated by one or two deaths. Deaths by suicide are subject to a coroner's inquiry and can only be officially deemed suicide once an inquest is complete. This means that there can be a considerable delay in publication of the statistics.Data on attempted suicide is only available for those admitted to hospital as inpatients or day patients for self-inflicted injury. Those cared for in hospital but not admitted and those cared for by primary or community care services are not reported. Therefore, the actual rate of attempted suicide is likely to be much higher than reported in official statistics. Comparability over time is affected by a change in population concept in 1991 (from de facto to resident), and the change in the ethnicity classification in 1995. Ethnic-specific mortality data is also subject to some uncertainty due to differences in collection across different providers.A comparison of international trends in youth suicide is problematic due to differences in the methods used to classify suicide.
Data sources: Ministry of Health, New Zealand Health Information Service (customised tables); Ministry of Health (2002a) Suicide Facts: Provisional 1999 Statistics (all ages); World Health Organisation: http://www.who.int/mental_health/Topic_Suicide/suicide_rates.html {update}
H5 Births to young adolescents
Definition/formulae: Births to females under 18 years of age per 1,000 estimated mean female population aged 13-17 years. For the international comparison, the teenage birth rate is the number of births to women under 20 per 1,000 females aged 15-19, except for the United States rate which excludes births to females under 15 years.
Limitations of data: Figures for 1998 were lower than expected because of a small change in the rate at which births were registered during 1998. Comparability over time is affected by a change in population concept in 1991 (from de facto to resident), and the change in the ethnicity classification in 1995.
Data sources: Statistics New Zealand, Age-specific fertility rates by single year of age; Demographic Trends 1997, Table 2.10; Demographic Trends 2000, Tables 2.10, 2.15; Demographic Trends 2001
H6 Prevalence of cigarette smoking
Definition/formulae: The proportion of the population aged 15 and over who ever smoke any ready-made cigarettes or roll-your-own tobacco cigarettes. Information on smoking prevalence is collected from quarterly surveys conducted by AC Nielson Ltd. Results up to 1999 have been calculated from the average of the quarterly results. The 2000 results are based on the year's pooled data's average prevalence.
Limitations of data: Information on smoking prevalence across regions is based on pooled data from 1998-2000 (which has been indirectly standardised by District Health Board regions). The international comparison is affected by differences in the collection and classification of the data.
Data sources: Ministry of Health Tobacco Facts May 2002. World Health Organisation Tobacco Control Country Profiles. Retrieved 17May, 2001 from the World Wide Web: http://tobacco.who.int/en/statistics/TCCP.html {update}
Knowledge and skills
K1 Participation in early childhood education
Definition: The number of children aged three and four years enrolled in early childhood education programmes as a proportion of the estimated population aged three and four years. Early Childhood Education (ECE) programmes include: licensed ECE services (kindergartens, playcentres, education and care services, homebased services, casual education and care (no regular roll), Correspondence School and Te Kōhanga Reo); and licence-exempt ECE services (Early Childhood Development funded playgroups, Pacific Islands early childhood groups, and playcentres); and licence-exemōhanga reo).
Limitations of data: Rates of participation are only ''apparent'' because children may be enrolled in more than one ECE centre. The rates may therefore be inflated. The measure does not provide information on the length of participation or the quality of the programmes, both of which are relevant to positive educational outcomes.
Data sources: Ministry of Education (various years) Education Statistics of New Zealand ; Education Statistics News Sheet, V10, no1, March 2001; customised tables; OECD (2001) Education at a Glance: OECD Indicators, 2001 Edition, Table C1.2.
K2 School leavers with higher qualifications
Definition: The number of students leaving school with Sixth Form Certificate in at least one subject or a higher qualification, as a proportion of the total number of school leavers during the year. Higher qualifications include: Sixth Form Certificate in at least one subject (irrespective of grade awarded); National Certificate Level 2 (or 12 or more credits at Level 2 or above); Higher School Certificate (or 12-39 credits at Level 3 or above); Entrance Qualification (or 40 or more credits at Level 3 or above); University Bursary, A or B grade (or National Certificate Level 3); University Scholarship (up to 1989).
Limitations of data: The available data on school leavers' highest qualifications does not allow a breakdown by the number of subjects passed or the grades achieved.
Data source: Ministry of Education (various years) Education Statistics of New Zealand .
K3 Educational attainment of the adult population
Definition: The proportion of adults aged 25-64 years with educational attainment of at least upper secondary school level, defined in the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED 97) as Level 3 and above.
ISCED 3 includes local Polytech certificate or
diploma, trade certificate or advanced trade certificate, University
Bursary, Scholarship, Higher School Certificate, Higher Leaving
Certificate, Sixth Form Certificate, University Entrance in one or more
subjects, School Certificate in one or more subjects, other school
qualification.
ISCED 4 includes technician's certificate, New Zealand Certificate
or diploma.
ISCED 5B includes university certificate or diploma, teacher's
certificate or diploma, nursing certificate or diploma, other tertiary
qualification.
ISCED 5A/6 includes post-graduate degree, certificate or diploma,
Bachelor's degree.
Limitations of data: There are substantial differences in the typical duration of ISCED 3 programmes between countries, typically ranging from two to five years of secondary schooling.
Data sources: Statistics New Zealand, Household Labour Force Survey; OECD (2001) Education at a Glance: OECD Indicators, 2001 Edition, Tables A2.2a, A2.2b.
K4 Adult literacy skills in English
Definition: Respondents in the International Adult Literacy Survey were asked to carry out various everyday tasks. "Prose literacy" refers to the knowledge and skills required to use information from texts, such as editorials, news stories, poems and fiction; "document literacy" refers to the knowledge and skills required to locate and use information contained in various formats such as job applications, payroll forms, transportation timetables, maps, tables and graphics; and "quantitative literacy" refers to the knowledge and skills required to apply arithmetic operations such as balancing a cheque book, completing an order form or determining the amount of interest on a loan. The achievement attained on each of the literacy domains is grouped into one of five "skill levels". Level 1 represented the lowest ability range and level 5 the highest. Literacy level 3 is regarded by experts as being the minimum required for individuals to meet the "complex demands of everyday life and work" in the emerging "knowledge society".
Limitations of data: The first international adult literacy survey was conducted in 1994-95; the New Zealand survey took place in 1996.
Data sources: Ministry of Education (1997) Adult Literacy in New Zealand : Results from the International Adult Literacy Survey; OECD (1998) Education at a Glance: OECD Indicators 1998, Table A3.3, p54.
K5 Participation in tertiary education
Definition: Participation in tertiary education is calculated by: the number of students who are enrolled in tertiary education and studying for a New Zealand registered qualification as at 31 July each year; divided by the relevant population.
Limitations of data: Further work is required to determine the best population estimates for the Māori population before Māori participation rates can be considered robust. They have therefore been omitted for this report.
Data sources: Ministry of Education, 2001; Education at a Glance: OECD Indicators, OECD, December 1997.
Safety and security
SS1 Child abuse and neglect Definition/formulae: The number of children who were assessed as abused (physically, emotionally, sexually) or neglected, following a notification to the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services as a proportion (per 1,000) of all children under 17 years of age.
Limitations of data: There is currently no single measure that can adequately establish the prevalence of child abuse in the community, or establish trends in child abuse over time. Mortality rates capture only the most extreme form of abuse; hospitalisation data on injuries sustained as a result of child abuse are subject to misclassification and reflect changes in hospital admission procedures. Notifications of child abuse and neglect, and hence the number of children assessed as abused, can be affected by the level of resources made available, by administrative changes, and by changes in the likelihood of people reporting suspected abuse. For Pacific children, rates of substantiated child abuse or neglect can only be produced for census years.
Data sources: Ministry of Health, New Zealand Health Information Service; Ministry of Social Policy (SWIS data); Statistics New Zealand, estimated resident population, mean for the year ended 30 June.
SS2 Criminal victimisation
Definition/formulae: The number of individuals who have been the victims of one or more incidents of criminal offending over the 1995 year as a proportion of the population aged 15 and over, as measured by the 1996 National Survey of Crime Victims. The survey includes all behaviour reported by the respondents which falls within the legal definition of criminal offending. This is a broader measure than that collected from police records.
Limitations of data: The survey includes a wide range of behaviour with varying degrees of seriousness but excludes offences such as shoplifting and tax evasion as well as victimless crimes such as drug abuse. Many of the reported behaviours may not be regarded as a "crime" by the victims and they may not regard the incident as requiring police intervention.The 1996 survey had a response rate of 57 per cent and the number of statistically insignificant findings was quite high. Previous studies suggest that sexual offending and domestic abuse are substantially under-reported in criminal victimisation surveys. The results, therefore, should be treated with some caution. The ethnicity definition in the survey is based on descent and differs from the definition used in the census. Multiple ethnic categories are classified as "Other".
Statistics on the fear of crime are subject to a number of conceptual and methodological issues.An international comparison of criminal victimisation rates is affected by inter-country variations in the willingness to disclose information about criminal offending as well as differences in survey response rates.
Data sources: New Zealand National Survey of Crime Victims 1996; Victimisation in New Zealand : As Measured by Harland, A. The 1992 International Crime Survey December 1995.
SS3 Road casualties
Definition/formulae: Number of deaths caused by motor vehicles per 100,000 population. Number of injured persons resulting from motor vehicle crashes as reported to the police, per 100,000 population. Pedestrians or cyclists killed or injured by motor vehicles are included.
Limitations of data: The collection of ethnicity data changed during 1995 for both mortality and hospitalisation data. For mortality data, the basis of ethnicity has changed from a biological concept to a concept of self-identification; in mid-1995 hospitalisation data recorded multiple ethnic groups, whereas previously only one ethnic group could be recorded. Consequently, comparison of 1996 ethnic-specific data with previous years is misleading: 1996 is the start of a new time series for ethnic-specific data.
Data sources: Land Transport Safety Authority; New Zealand Health Information Service; New Zealand Travel Surveys. The Land Transport Safety Authority derives its data from two main sources: injury data from the Traffic Crash Reports completed by Police officers who attend the fatal and injury crashes; and mortality and hospitalisation data from the New Zealand Health Information Service. The LTSA does not report on ethnic-specific rates of death or hospitalisation; these data come directly from NZHIS. The New Zealand Travel Survey 1997/98 was based on a sample of approximately 14,000 people and the survey report compared results from a similar survey conducted in 1989/90.
Paid work
PW1 Unemployment
Definition: The proportion of labour force (aged 15 and over) that is unemployed. The labour force is the sum of those defined as employed and those defined as unemployed. Hence the unemployment rate is defined as Unemployed/(Employed and Unemployed). The unemployed are defined in the Household Labour Force Survey as those who are without a paid job (or unpaid work in a relative's business) and who have actively sought work in four weeks prior to the survey and are available to take work. "Actively seeking" includes any actions such as contacting an employer, asking friends and relatives, contacting an employment agency or the Department of Work and Income but excludes those who have only checked newspaper advertisements. The employed are those who worked for pay or profit for one hour or more in the week prior to the survey or who worked unpaid in a relative's business or who have a job but did not work that week because of leave, sickness or industrial disputes.
Limitations of data: Data is based on a sample survey and is therefore subject to sampling error. The definition of the unemployed excludes some people who regard themselves as unemployed, including the "discouraged unemployed" - those not meeting the 'actively seeking work' criterion. This group is classified in the "Not in the Labour Force" category. The unemployment rate also excludes those who have part-time employment but are seeking to work more hours.
Data sources: Statistics New Zealand, Household Labour Force Survey, 1986-2001; OECD Standardised Unemployment Rates, Retrieved 10 May 2001 from the World Wide Web: http://www.oecd.org/media/new-numbers/sur/sur01-05a.pdf, {update}
PW2 Employment
Definition: The proportion of the population aged 15-64 that is employed for at least one hour per week. See above for definition of the employed. The definition used here relates to the population aged 15-64, rather than to those aged 15 and over, because otherwise results are skewed by differences in the proportions of the sub-populations over 65, particularly when comparing males with females and comparing different ethnic groups.
Limitations of data: As above, data is subject to sampling error. The definition of employment includes those working one hour or more per week, so will include some people who are likely to regard their status as closer to unemployment than to being employed. For example people on the unemployment benefit and searching for work but working a few hours per week will be counted as employed.
Data sources: Statistics New Zealand Household Labour Force Survey, 1986-2001.
PW3 Workplace injury claims
Definition: The number of work-related accident claims reported to the Accident Insurance Regulator per 1,000 full-time equivalent employees (one part-time employee = 0.5 full-time employee).
Limitations of data: The data does not include workplace accidents where no claim was made with an insurer. In some cases there are also delays between the occurrence of the accident, the claim being reported to the insurer and the insurer reporting the claim to the Regulator.
Data sources: Workplace Accident Insurance Statistics Report 2000/2001, Accident Insurance Regulator, Department of Labour. Full-time equivalent employee data is as estimated by the Statistics New Zealand 1986-2001 Household Labour Force Survey.
Civil, political and human rights
CP1 Voter turnout
Definition/formulae: The total number of votes cast is divided by the estimated number of people who would have been eligible to vote (voting age population) on Election Day, and expressed as a percentage. In order to be eligible to vote, a person must be at least 18 years old and meet residential and certain other criteria.
Limitations of data: The voting age population is based on population estimates that are subject to revision. The 1984 figure is based on the estimated de facto population aged 18 and over, as at 30 June 1984.Data source: Electoral Commission (2002) http://www.elections.org.nz/elections/news/020801.html; Statistics New Zealand, estimated de facto population by ages.
CP2 Complaints to the Human Rights Commission and Race Relations Office
Definition/formulae: The total number of complaints made to the Human Rights Commission and the Office of Race Relations.
Limitations of data: The increase in the total number of discrimination complaints to the HRC may be partly attributable to changes in legislation and reporting requirements that broadened the grounds on which a complaint could be laid.
Data sources: Report of the Office of the Race Relations Conciliator (1984-2000).Report of the Human Rights Commission (Annual Report) (1984-2000).
Culture and Identity
CI1 Participation in cultural and arts activities
Definition/formulae: The proportion of adults aged 18 and over who took part in an arts activity during the past year and the average number of different arts activities in which they took part, as measured in the 1997-98 Arts Every Day Survey.
Limitations of data: Ad hoc survey.
Data source: Creative New Zealand /Hillary Commission Arts Every Day Survey, 1997-98. A total of 5,846 adults aged 18 and over were interviewed: 806 people identified as Māori and 175 as Pacific peoples.
CI2 Māori language speakers
Definition/formulae: Māori language speakers as a proportion of the Māori ethnic group. Māori language speakers are defined as those able to hold a conversation about a lot of everyday things in Māori.
Limitations of data: The data is reliant on self-reporting and does not measure the level of fluency in the population. More detailed information on the level of fluency among Māori language speakers is available from a nationwide survey undertaken in 1995. This data is not directly comparable with the census data because different definitions were used.
Data sources: Statistics New Zealand, 2001 Census of Population and Dwellings: Māori; Te Puni Kokiri [2001] Provisional results of the 2001 Survey of the Health of the Māori Language.
CI3 Māori and Pacific children receiving Māori medium and Pacific medium education
Definition/formulae: (1) The number of Māori children who were enrolled in kōhanga reo as a proportion of all Māori children enrolled in early childhood education (ECE); (2) the number of children enrolled in Pacific early childhood language groups as a proportion of all Pacific children enrolled in ECE; and (3) the number of Māori and Pacific students who receive language immersion education in primary and secondary schools.
Limitations of data: The only readily available information on Māori immersion education in early childhood education relates to kōhanga reo and Pacific early childhood language groups. There is no published information over time on Māori children who were receiving immersion education in mainstream early childhood centres. Prior to 1990, the number of children enrolled in kōhanga reo includes all enrolments, Māori and non-Māori. Changes in counting methods affect the comparability of kōhanga reo data before and after 1998, and Māori medium data before and after 1999.Enrolments in Pacific early childhood education includes all enrolments in both licensed and unlicensed centres.
Data sources: Ministry of Education (various years) Education Statistics of New Zealand ; Statistics New Zealand, Estimated Resident Māori Population as at 30 June 1991-00.
CI4 Local content programming on New Zealand television
Definition/formulae: The hours of local content broadcast on TV One, TV2, and TV3 in prime time are expressed as a percentage of the total prime time schedule. TV3 commenced in November 1989. New Zealand programming includes first runs and repeats across all three channels.
Limitations of data: The number of local content hours broadcast on other free-to-air or pay channels is not included in the data presented here.Data source: New Zealand on Air, Retrieved 10 May 2001 from the World Wide Web: http://www.nzonair.govt.nz/pubs/25.html
Economic standard of living
EC1 Market income per person
Definition/formulae: Real GNDI measures the real purchasing power of the net income of New Zealand residents from both domestic and overseas sources after taking account of income redistribution resulting from international transfers. GNDI is GNI (previously called GNP) plus net international transfers. Real GDP per person (as used in the OECD comparisons) is Gross National Expenditure plus exports minus imports.Derivation of RGNDI: In the published tables, RGNDI is calculated as follows:Constant price gross domestic product (production-based measure) plus constant price trading gain/loss plus constant price total net income and transfers. Constant price trading gain/loss is defined as current price exports divided by the imports implicit price indexless constant price exports. Constant price total net income and transfers equals investment income credits less investment income debits plus transfers credits less transfers debits, all divided by the imports implicit price index.
Limitations of data: Major limitations to the use of RGNDI as an indicator of well-being include its failure to include non-marketed (and, therefore, non-priced) activities (barring the exception of imputed rentals). RGNDI provides no information on income distribution considerations. Evidence suggests monetary measures have a very weak cross-sectional and limited time series correlation with self-assessed measures of well-being. Use of real GDP for OECD comparisons is likely to over-state New Zealand's relative position because of New Zealand's relatively high per capita net external debt.
Data sources: Statistics New Zealand, Real GNDI per capita, INFOS series SNBA.SRNDIPCO. OECD real GDP data is from OECD, Annual National Accounts - volume 1, Comparative Tables.
EC2 Income inequality
Definition/formulae: The ratio of the 80th percentile of disposable household income to the 20th percentile of disposable household income. This indicator is based on "actual" household income so does not take into account household size and composition.
Data source: Household Economic Survey. Access to the data used in this study was provided by Statistics New Zealand under conditions designed to give effect to the confidentiality provisions of the Statistics Act 1975. The results presented in this study are the work of the Ministry of Social Policy.
EC3 Population with low incomes
Definition/formulae: The measures have been constructed using economic family units as the base unit of analysis. An economic family is operationally defined as:
- Financially independent single adult (not in a de jure or "social" marriage, not caring for dependent children).
- Sole parent family - i.e. financially independent single adult (not in a de jure or "social" marriage) caring for one or more dependent children.
- Couple (in a de jure or "social" marriage, not caring for dependent children).
- Two parent family - i.e. couple (in a de jure or "social" marriage) caring for one or more dependent children.
- All young adults are considered financially independent at 18 years of age; 16 and 17 year olds are also considered financially independent if receiving a benefit in their own right or employed for 30 hours or more per week.
- Conceptually, an economic family is a group of co-resident people whose financial affairs are common or have been merged to the extent that the people are substantially interdependent (with an individual not part of such a group being considered to constitute an economic family in its minimal form.
Housing costs have been apportioned to economic family units. Account was taken of the housing costs of the economic family unit by subtracting its housing cost from its after-tax income. The resulting amounts were inflation adjusted using the CPI for all groups excluding housing.Adjustment for family size was made by means of a per capita equivalisation process based on the 1988 Revised Jensen Equivalence Scale. The resulting amount - Housing-adjusted Equivalised Disposable Income (HEDY) - can be regarded as an income-based proxy measure of standard of living. The HEDY is the metric on which the low thresholds are specified. Changes over the decade 1988 to 1998 have been tracked in terms of the proportion of economic families with HEDY values below 40 per cent, 50 per cent and 60 per cent of the median HEDY in 1998. This definition means that the measures are based on constant-value benchmarks. The three measures are referred to as the 40 per cent line, the 50 per cent line and the 60 per cent line. For the purpose of this analysis the self-employed have been included. NB: While technical analysis done to date indicates that the measurement approach is well-grounded and robust, future work may point to the use of other thresholds as more informative for social monitoring.
Limitations of data: The HEDY metric is an imperfect indicator of living standards, which is influenced by factors other than income and housing cost. People with the same income level can have greatly different standards of living as a result of their lifecycle stage (youth, middle age, elderly), ownership of assets, the extent to which they receive assistance from others, and the extent to which they have atypical expenditure commitments (e.g. unusually high medical costs, debt repayments, transport costs, electricity costs, etc). People who experience a lengthy period of substantial restriction are likely to have different life outcomes to those who experience only a transient episode.Family ethnicity is defined in this indicator by the presence of an adult of a particular ethnic group. The figures for families defined in this way are not mutually exclusive.Housing costs is the sum of annualised accommodation expenditure codes (includes mortgage payments (principal and interest), payments to local authorities, property rent, rent of private dwelling, boarding house, student accommodation not paid with formal fees). In this indicator the accommodation supplement is counted as income.
Data sources: Derived from the Household Economic Survey by the Ministry of Social Policy. OECD (1999) Trends in Income Distribution and Poverty in the OECD Area, Background Tables and Figures, DEELSA/ELSA/WPI(99)15/ANN, p21.
EC4 Housing affordability
Definition/formulae: Proportion of all households with housing cost outgoings-to-income ratio greater than 30 per cent. Household incomes have been equivalised using the 1988 Revised Jensen Equivalence Scale. Housing costs is the sum of annualised accommodation expenditure codes (includes mortgage payments (principal and interest), payments to local authorities, property rent, rent of private dwelling, boarding house, student accommodation not paid with formal fees). In this indicator the accommodation supplement is counted as income. Limitations of data: Measures of housing affordability do not shed light on issues of housing quality, suitability or sustainability, nor do they explain why affordability problems may exist, or the extent to which inadequate housing is occupied in order to avoid affordability problems. Furthermore, marginally-housed families are often hidden from official statistics and therefore not counted among those with an affordability problem.Household ethnicity is defined in this indicator by the presence of an adult of a particular ethnic group. The figures for households defined in this way are not mutually exclusive.
Data source: Derived from the Household Economic Survey by Ministry of Social Policy.
EC5 Household crowding
Definition/formulae: The Canadian National Occupancy standard sets the bedroom requirements of a household according to the following compositional criteria:
- There should be no more than two people per bedroom;
- Parents or couples share a bedroom;
- Children under five years, either of same or opposite sex, may reasonably share a bedroom;
- Children under 18 years of the same sex may reasonably share a bedroom;
- A child aged five to 17 years should not share a bedroom with one under five of the opposite sex;
- Single adults 18 years and over and any unpaired children require a separate bedroom.
Limitations of data: There is no contemporary official statistic or index of household crowding in New Zealand . There are many frameworks or models used in many countries for analysing the incidence of crowding. It is unlikely that any single measure of crowding could adequately summarise such a complex and multi-faceted issue as crowding. There is no definitive evidence that crowding leads to negative social outcomes. There are just associations between living in crowded circumstances and negative outcomes. The mechanisms by which these outcomes result are not clear.The Canadian crowding index is not an objective index of crowding. The extent to which household members will perceive themselves as living in crowded circumstances is dependent on many factors including social and cultural expectations. Furthermore, it cannot be assumed that households requiring two or more additional bedrooms (based on the Canadian index) will suffer negative social outcomes.The Canadian crowding index is used here as it is both sensitive to household size and composition. The measure sets a bedroom requirement for households based on precise criteria. It is useful not only for ascertaining crowding levels but also to identify the extent of bedroom under-utilisation.
Data sources: New Zealand Now - Housing, pp56-63, Statistics New Zealand, 1998; Ministry of Social Policy (2001) Definitions of Crowding and the Effects of Crowding on Health: A Literature Review, Research Series Report 1, p4.
EC6 Food insecurity
Definition/formulae: This information comes from the 1997 New Zealand Nutrition Survey (NNS97). This survey provides information on food and nutrient intakes, dietary habits and nutrition-related clinical measures of New Zealanders. NNS97 was based on a nationally representative sample of 4,636 New Zealanders living in selected households and aged 15 years and above. The survey information was collected in the homes of respondents and included: a 24 hour diet recall; a self-administered qualitative food frequency questionnaire which estimated the frequency of intake of foods over the preceding 12 months and included questions on food preparation habits; questions on dietary supplements; barriers to dietary change and self assessment of household food security.
Data source: Ministry of Health (1999) NZ Food, NZ People, Key results of the 1997 National Nutrition Survey, pp100-102.
EC7 Self-reported standard of living;
Definition/formulae: Proportion of the population rating their standard of living as "low" or "fairly low" in the 2000 Living Standards Surveys. (The other response categories were "medium", "fairly high" or "high".) The data is derived from responses to two Ministry of Social Policy surveys of living standards conducted in 2000, one of 3,060 older people (65+) and the other of 3,682 working-age adults (18-64). Both surveys involved face-to-face interviews with nationwide representative samples.Statistical collection unit: The data was collected in relation to the "economic family" (an adult with or without a partner and dependent children). Some results are reported for persons (e.g. results for total population, dependent children). These counts are obtained by aggregating the persons in the economic families with the attributes indicated. For example, if an economic family with a low respondent-assessed rating contains five children, it contributes five to the count of children in the "low standard of living" rating category.
For total population estimates, results were estimated by taking a weighted average of results from the two surveys. For age differences, the unit of analysis is the economic family. Although only one adult responded for the economic family, results (such as that adult's self-ratings) have been applied to the whole economic family (including children). For ethnic differences, economic families with one or more Māori members have been classified as Māori. Economic families with one or more Pacific members have been classified as Pacific. "Other" economic families include those with one or more members of other ethnic groups. European economic families are the remaining families not included in the above categories. The Māori, Pacific and Other ethnic categories are not mutually exclusive.Data for families with dependent children comes from the working-age survey only.For family economic status, the first two rows are based on the working-age survey (including children) and the third and fourth rows on the survey of older people. Economic families in the working-age survey were divided into those where the main income earner was in full-time paid employment and those where the main income earner was not in full-time paid employment (25 per cent of the surveyed population). Older people were divided into those with employment income, private superannuation income, or some other non-government income of more than $2,500 per annum (50 per cent of older people), and those without such non-government income (partner's income included).
Limitations of data: These results are based on provisional survey datasets. Results from the working-age survey were weighted to be representative of economic families containing a working-age adult (18-64). A few of these families contained a partner aged over 65. The survey of older people was weighted to be representative of individuals (not economic families) aged 65 and over. Therefore, the small sub-population of people over 65 with partners aged under 65 may be double counted by the weightings. Also, dependent children of those over 65 have not been accounted for by the weightings. These limitations are not expected to substantially affect the above results.
Data source: Living Standards Surveys 2000, Ministry of Social Policy.
Social connectedness
SC1 Unpaid work outside the home
Definition/formulae: The proportion of the population aged 12 and over who did unpaid work for people or organisations outside their own household, and the average time spent on unpaid work outside the home, as measured by the 1999 Time Use Survey.
Limitations of data: Sample survey, subject to sampling error.
Data source: Statistics New Zealand (2001) Around the Clock: Findings from the New Zealand Time Use Survey 1998-99, Chapter 3, Social Participation; 1999 Time Use Survey, unpublished tables.
SC2 Telephone and Internet access in the home
Definition/formulae: The proportion of the population with telephone and Internet access in the home, as measured by the 2000 Living Standards Surveys.The data is derived from responses to two Ministry of Social Policy surveys of living standards conducted in 2000, one of 3,060 older people (65+) and the other of 3,682 working age adults (18-64). Both surveys involved face-to-face interviews with nationwide representative samples.For further details, see notes for EC7 Self-reported Standard of Living.
Data source: Statistics New Zealand ; 2001 Census of Population and Dwellings; Living Standards Surveys 2000, Ministry of Social Policy.
SC3 Participation in family/whanau activities and regular contact with family/friends
Definition/formulae: The proportion of the population who had had family or friends over for a meal at least once a month, and the proportion who had participated in family (whanau) activities, as measured by the 2000 Living Standards Surveys. Family or whanau activities were not specified in the surveys; respondents interpreted them in their own ways. The data is derived from responses to two Ministry of Social Policy surveys of living standards conducted in 2000, one of 3,060 older people (65+) and the other of 3,682 working-age adults (18-64). Both surveys involved face-to-face interviews with nationwide representative samples.For further details, see notes for EC7 Self-reported Standard of Living.
Data source: Living Standards Surveys 2000, Ministry of Social Policy.
SC4 Membership of and involvement in groups
Definition/formulae: The proportion of the population aged 18 and over who responded to a question in the New Zealand Election Study 1999 that they belonged to an organisation or group. "Active" membership is defined here as having attended at least one meeting in the previous year; "passive" membership as having attended no meetings.
Limitations of data: The data comes from self-completed postal surveys. As the sample contains panel components subject to attrition, participation may be overestimated. The main dataset is made up of three components: a sample drawn from the 1999 rolls (N=940, rr=58 per cent); a sample containing people sampled from the rolls at any or all of the 1990, 1993, and 1996 elections (N=2231), and a sample taken originally by phone during the 1999 election campaign subsequently completing a postal survey (N=2060, rr about 35 per cent on a base of the original numbers). A separate Māori sample was drawn (response rate 54 percent) and the Māori dataset is somewhat biased towards areas of the country where Māori tend to be more concentrated.
Data source: New Zealand Election Study 1999; unpublished data and supporting technical information obtained from Jack Vowles, Principal Researcher, j.vowles@waikato.ac.nz.
Physical environment
EN1 Air quality
Definition/formulae: The level of ambient concentrations of CO averaged over an 8-hour period are categorised with respect to the maximum air quality guideline of 10 milligrams per cubic metre (10 mg/m3).
Limitations of data: Ambient air quality sites where data on CO levels are publicly available are few in number and tend to represent urban areas where "worst case" CO concentration levels are to be found.
Data source: Ministry for the Environment, http://aqdb.niwa.cri.nz/indicators/airpoll_indicators.htm.
EN2 Drinking water quality
Definition/formulae: Full microbiological compliance with the Drinking-water Standards for New Zealand (DWSNZ) 1995 requires that all water leaving the treatment plant must be free of three microorganisms: faecal coliforms, Giardia, and Cryptosporidium. Additionally, adequate monitoring and the use of a registered laboratory are required to demonstrate full compliance with this standard. Figures are shown on the sub-population that is served by community supplies, showing the percentage of this population that receives drinking water that fully complies with the DWSNZ 1995.
Limitations of data: Drinking water rated not fully compliant may be the result of failing one of three of the microbiological criteria, the use of a non-registered laboratory, or inadequate monitoring, rather than being actually contaminated.
Data source: Annual Review of the Microbiological Quality of Drinking-water in New Zealand (1994 to 1999), Ministry of Health, Wellington.
