Who are New Zealand's children?
Children should be defined according to the context of the situation being considered. In the Census of Population and Dwellings, children are people under 15 years of age. However, in families, children may be any age. They are members of the family who live with at least one parent. In particular legislative contexts, children may refer to people of different ages.
What are population statistics about children used for?
Statistics about children are used to count, estimate and project the population of New Zealanders aged 0-14 years and children in families, together with the dwellings, households, families, locations and environments that they live in.
They are also used to describe the characteristics of New Zealand children (eg sex, ethnicity, family and household composition), and to compare children with the total New Zealand population, and with other age groups of New Zealanders.
Resources
Census Snapshot 13: Children in New Zealand
A brief snapshot of children based on information from the 2001 Census of Population and Dwellings. Published by Statistics New Zealand, 2002.
Children in New Zealand
Report of people under 15 years of age, based on the 1996 Census of Population and Dwellings. Published by Statistics New Zealand, 1998.
Statistics on disadvantaged children, youth and their families
Annual report published by the Department of Child, Youth and Family, year ended June, 2003. Highly aggregated statistics on client volumes from the Department of Child Youth and Family. The client profile can be broken down by age, gender, ethnicity, location and type of placement.
Protecting Our Innocence, New Zealand's National Plan of Action against The Commercial Sexual Exploitation Of Children, February 2002.
Ministry of Justice report.
Children in New Zealand: Report on Cross-Sectoral Outcome Measures and Targets 2000
Ministry of Social Development summary report.
References
Children's Issues Centre (1998). Papers from the Children's Issues Centre, University of Otago, University of Otago, Dunedin.
Lee N (2001). Children and Society: Growing Up in an Age of Uncertainty, Open University Press, Buckingham.
Prout A (2001). The Future of Childhood, Routledge, London.
UNICEF (2004). The State of the World's Children Report 2003, UNICEF, New York.
Experts
For further information email the Demography Division of Statistics New Zealand or write to:
Robert Didham
Demography Division
Statistics New Zealand
Dollan House
401 Madras Street
Private Bag 4741
Christchurch