Census to ask about civil unions, fertility

Smoking and fertility questions have again been added to next year's Census which will also quiz New Zealanders about family trusts set up around their homes.

Statistics New Zealand unveiled the new Census questions yesterday, with some changes related to new laws around civil unions.

There is also recognition of the NCEA in questions about educational achievements.

The five-yearly Census will be held on March 7 next year, and everyone in New Zealand that day must by law fill in the form.

Denise McGregor of Statistics NZ said the new questions on family trusts reflected changes in lifestyle, with data about whether a person rented or owned a home too limited.

There had been no resistance to the question in trials, despite ongoing debate about the tax treatment of trusts.

The question, in a form to be filled in by one person in each dwelling - which could be a house, flat or even a tent - will ask if the dwelling is held in a family trust, and if that trust makes mortgage payments.

The form includes usual questions on ethnicity and religion and now includes relationship questions around civil unions, on top of de facto relationships and marriages.

Women can refuse to answer a query about the number of children they have given birth to and how many are alive.

People will also be asked how many cigarettes they smoke each day.

The questions were last asked in 1996, and are not asked each census because the trends indicating change have not varied greatly in the past.

The form can be filled on-line instead of using the paper forms, with pin numbers supplied for security.

The numbers

* Held every five years and people must complete their forms

* 4.2 million people will be questioned

* 98 per cent of people completed the Census in 2001

* 7000 workers are needed to supervise and collect the Census forms

* By law, people's individual data cannot be made public.