This publication describes the content of the New Zealand Health Survey for the period July 2012 to June 2013. It also outlines the history of the New Zealand Health Survey and its development into a continuous survey, describes the process for developing the adult and child questionnaires for 2012/13, and gives an overview of each section of the survey. The adult and child survey questions are tabulated in Appendices 1 and 2, which also provide details of the source and time series for each survey question.
Purpose
The goal of the NZHS is to support the formulation and evaluation of policy by providing timely, reliable and relevant health information. This information cannot be collected more efficiently from other sources, and covers population health, health risk and protective factors, and health service utilisation.
Methodology
The target population for the survey is New Zealand’s usually resident population of all ages (including those living in non-private accommodation). The NZHS sample is selected using a stratified, multi-stage area design. The survey questionnaire is administered through face-to-face interviews, using computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) software. Participants are adults aged 15 years and older, as well as children aged 0 to 14 years, who are interviewed through their parent or legal guardian acting as a proxy respondent. The NZHS sample design and methodology will be published online alongside this report.