Second address/ residence
Sophie Davies
Public
Seen by 198
Many people in New Zealand move between different addresses or have more than one residence. Examples of this are:
- children whose week is split between separate parental homes,
- students whose term-time address differs from their home address and
- people whose working week address differs from their home address.
The information requirements identified are a need to understand:
- regional population fluctuations,
- family connections across households,
- New Zealand’s housing stock, and
- second home ownership rates.
In addition, this information could provide operational gains for Statistics NZ and help to ensure the quality of the population count in the census.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) in England and Wales collected information on second address and the purpose of that address in their 2011 Census. They used a definition of 30 days or more a year to identify second addresses. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is also currently considering including it in their 2016 Census.
It may not be possible for the census to meet all information needs identified in this topic area, because the amount of information we can collect on any one topic is limited. We also need to be think about respondent burden when considering adding another address question in the 2018 Census.
Our current recommendations relating to second address/ residence
We recommend that second address or residence be considered for inclusion in the 2018 Census.
We invite feedback on information requirements relating to second addresses or residences, and which types of information would be of the greatest value and highest priority to collect.
See our preliminary view of 2018 Census content (pages 21-22) for a more detailed discussion on second address/ residence information.
Reuben Jackson Mon 4 May 2015 3:08AM
It would be very important for schools and health departments, and other community resource providers if they could know how many children live in 2 homes. All government forms should assume children might have 2 different parental contact addresses, such that both parents are kept informed of important health and educational requirements. Collecting statistics on children who live in 2 homes would help parents in this situation argue the merits of this to office administrators who do not understand the need for 2 parents to be kept informed. There does not appear to be any other way to collect this information, as many shared parents do not use IRD/WINZ to process family support payments.
Reuben Jackson Mon 4 May 2015 3:12AM
I was also surprised to see statistics that indicate that approximately 10% of homes in NZ are unoccupied, while at the same time we have a housing crisis. It would be interesting to understand how these unoccupied homes are utilized.
Cecile Tañedo Mon 4 May 2015 7:36PM
Welcome Reuben to 'second address/residence' discussion.
The information you have just provided is valuable to us; an input to evaluating the need for second residence/address.
Again thank you for sharing.
Cecile Tañedo Mon 4 May 2015 7:57PM
Reuben, let me know your thoughts on the definition of second residence/address. ONS defined it as 30 days or more a year to identify second residence. What do you think about this definition? I would love to know your thoughts on this.
Thank you.
Guy Marriage Mon 4 May 2015 8:22PM
Seems to me that you would need to ask if it is a Bach, or just a second place in which to live. Some people may live further out from the city, and have a city pad to crash in during the week, or they may commute between two cities. Both of these are different scenarios to a Bach.
Cecile Tañedo Mon 4 May 2015 8:27PM
Welcome to the discussion Guy!
Thank you. These are the points we need to consider too.
Reuben Jackson Mon 4 May 2015 9:43PM
30 days seems like a fair enough definition that splits holidays from 2nd homes... however, it would be more useful if you just asked for percentages, or nights per year... duration is used as a stat on entry/exit cards at airports.. Holiday places like coromandel peninsular might like to know that percentage of the year dwellings are used, even if under 30 nights... TCDC sit on lots of "empty homes", but in reality, they are all connected to electricity, and are probably lived in 20-60 nights per year. These stats would help shape arguments for metered water, versus paying rates. etc..
Cecile Tañedo Mon 4 May 2015 10:10PM
Thank you Reuben for your prompt response. Much appreciated. I will take this suggestion into account.
Ellen Blake Thu 7 May 2015 10:13AM
Hi Would be interesting to get a bit more information on second homes (of whatever sort). Where are they. How many nights occupied is a familiar measure that would be useful. How many households have access to a second or third home.
Cecile Tañedo · Wed 29 Apr 2015 7:50PM
Hello and welcome
I am Cecile C. Tañedo your online facilitator on 'second address/residence'. I would like to welcome everyone's participation in the 2018 Census content online discussion. We look forward to your comments and suggestions as these are very important to us at Statistics New Zealand.