Census 2018 – Data Analysis by Suburb


As a community group, you will often need information about your organisation and the community it is set within, to better understand your role and possibilities, and to investigate trends in your community.  This information can often be difficult to access.

Census 2018 Data was released at several geographical levels in December 2019. Charles Crothers, a Community Research Kaiarahi, has taken the data from the 2018 Census and created the downloadable tables below to make this information available in a user-friendly format.

The data has been analysed to provide percentaged figures at a suburb level, which can then be compared with other suburbs or local authority or NZ level totals.  Due to the extensive range of census data, these tables focus on key characteristics such as age, gender, ethnicity, income level etc.

The following tables are available at SA2 (‘suburb’) level for 2018 as pdf here:

If you require a Word document (searchable by suburb), please email
communications@communityresearch.org.nz . For further tables, please email Charles Crothers (Charles.crothers@aut.ac.nz), Auckland University of Technology.

Interactive Mapping is available at:

Information about the reliability of census data is available at: https://www.stats.govt.nz/2018-census/data-quality-for-2018-census

Below is information about the available data:

1. Years 2018, 2013 & 2006 (where available)

2. Levels

  • Statistical area 1 data
  • Statistical area 2 data
  • Ward data
  • Local board area (Auckland region) data
  • Territorial authority data
  • District Health Board data
  • Regional Council data

Statistical area 1 (SA1) and statistical area 2 (SA2) geographies are aggregations of meshblocks, optimised to be of similar population sizes to enable the release of low-level data. The SA1 geography is a new output geography for the 2018 Census that provides more detailed information about population characteristics than is available at the meshblock level. SA1s have an ideal size range of 100–200 residents, and a maximum population of about 500. Around 19,000 of the 29,889 SA1s (about two-thirds) consist of a single meshblock.

The SA2 geography replaces the area unit geography. Although SA2s and area units are generally the same conceptually, the boundaries (and their names) have changed to reflect changes in land use and population patterns since the area unit geography was created in 1992. For further information refer to the Statistical standard for geographic areas 2018.

Wards are the voting districts for territorial authorities. Local boards were introduced as part of the new local government arrangements for Auckland in 2010.

3. Variables

3.1 Dwellings:

  • Occupied private dwelling type
  • Dwelling record type for occupied dwellings
  • Non-private dwelling type for occupied non-private dwellings
  • Number of rooms, for occupied private dwellings
  • Number of Bedrooms, for occupied private dwellings
  • Main types of heating used to heat dwellings, (total responses), for occupied private dwellings
  • Fuel types used to heat dwellings, (total responses), for occupied private dwellings
  • Dwelling occupancy status for all dwellings
  • Access to basic amenities, for occupied private dwellings
  • Dwelling dampness indicator, for occupied private dwellings
  • Dwelling mould indicator, for occupied private dwellings

3.2 Households

  • Total households in occupied private dwellings
  • Tenure of household, for households in occupied private dwellings
  • Sector of landlord, for households in rented occupied private dwellings
  • Weekly rent paid, for households in rented occupied private dwellings
  • Number of motor vehicles, for households in occupied private dwellings
  • Access to telecommunications, for households in occupied private dwellings

3.3 Individual 1

  • Census usually resident population count
  • Census night population count
  • Unit record data source
  • Sex
  • Age in five year groups
  • Age in broad groups
  • Age in five year groups by sex
  • Years at usual residence
  • Usual residence five years ago (2013) indicator
  • Usual residence one year ago (2017) indicator
  • Birthplace
  • Years since arrival in New Zealand
  • Ethnic group (grouped total responses)
  • Six languages (total responses)
  • Māori descent

3.4 Individual 2

  • Religious affiliation (total responses)
  • Cigarette smoking behaviour
  • Difficulty seeing even if wearing glasses
  • Difficulty hearing even if using a hearing aid
  • Difficulty walking or climbing steps
  • Difficulty remembering or concentrating
  • Difficulty washing all over or dressing
  • Difficulty communicating using your usual language for example being understood by others
  • Legally registered relationship status
  • Partnership status in current relationship
  • Individual home ownership
  • Number of children born
  • Highest qualification
  • Study participation
  • Total personal income (grouped)
  • Sources of personal income
  • Main means of travel to education
  • Main means of travel to education, for education institute address

3.5 Individual 3a

  • Work and labour force status
  • Status in employment
  • Occupation (level 1) by usual residence address
  • Occupation (level 1) by workplace address
  • Industry (level 1), by usual residence address
  • Industry (level 1), by workplace address

3.6 Individual 3b – available early 2020

  • Total hours worked in employment per week
  • Main means of travel to work
  • Main means of travel to work, for workplace address* (2018 only)
  • Unpaid activities

4. Formats

Excel, CSV, Long form

Data analysed and tables provided by Charles Crothers, Charles.crothers@aut.ac.nz

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