Analysis of Household Crowding

Results

National crowding and occupancy rates

Crowding

Approximately 10 percent of New Zealanders live in crowded conditions. Crowding as a proportion of total people decreased between 1991 and 2013 from 11.8 percent to 10.1 percent. In terms of numerical change, there has been an increase in the number of people living in crowded households. This can be broken into two periods as follows. Between 1991 and 2001, the number of people living in crowded conditions decreased by 31,540. Between 2001 and 2013, the number of people in New Zealand living in crowded conditions increased by 49,950 people.
Table 1a: Crowding in New Zealand, 1991–2013*

Census year	People		Percent crowded (95% CIs)	Change (1991–2013)
	Total crowded	Total people		Number	Percent
1991	379,890	3,210,320	11.8 (11.8–11.9)
1996	369,660	3,383,520	10.9 (10.9–11.0)
2001	348,350	3,451,380	10.1 (10.0–10.1)
2006	389,390	3,735,030	10.4 (10.4–10.5)
2013	398,300	3,931,041	10.1 (10.1–10.2)	18,410	4.8

* Household crowding, for usual residents in households, in private dwellings.
Crowding, calculated as a proportion of the population, has decreased significantly since 2006. Even though there is only a small decrease, the large survey sample of the census means that the change is significant (Figure 1).
Figure 1: Proportion of New Zealanders living in crowded conditions, 1991–2013


In terms of numerical change, there are 8910 (2.3%) more people living in crowded households in 2013 than there were in 2006 (Figure 2). In comparison, population growth in the same period was 5 percent; in essence, growth in household crowding is slower than overall population growth.
Figure 2: Population (number) living in crowded conditions, 1991–2013


Across all housing stock, including rental and owner occupied, 5 percent of all stock is crowded. This is a small, but significant decrease from 2006 when 5.2 percent of housing stock was crowded (Table 1b).
Table 1b: Crowded households in New Zealand

Year	Crowded households	Total households	Percent (95% CIs)
2006	71,870	1,390,640	5.2 (5.1–5.2)
2013	74,124	1,471,779	5.0 (5.0–5.1)

Just over half (55%) of all crowded households has at least two or more children, with at least one child aged between 5 and 14 years (Table 1c). This information is important because children in households with at least two children in the household (with at least one child aged between 5 and 14 years) are at higher risk of developing health problems.

Table 1c: Crowding in households with two or more children, where one of the children is aged between 5–14 years*

Crowded households with two or more children (one child aged 5–14 years)	Total crowded households	Percent of total crowded households that had two or more children (one aged 5–14 years)
41,244	74,124	55.6

* 2013 census household crowding, with at least two or more children who usually reside at the household where one of the children is aged between 5 and 14 years for households in private dwellings.
Crowding as a percentage of population has increased in three DHBs; Waitemata (9.4% to 9.6%), Canterbury (5.9% to 6.2%) and South Canterbury (2.9% to 3.4%) (Table 1d). All other DHBs have either decreased or stayed the same. However, the number of people living in crowded conditions increased in eight DHBs, with the largest increases in Counties Manukau (7755), Waitemata (4704), Canterbury (1698), Auckland (1089) and South Canterbury (315). The increases reflect population increases in each DHB, however, the increased crowding in Canterbury and South Canterbury is likely due to housing shortages as a result of the September 2010 and February 2011 Christchurch earthquakes.

Table 1d: Crowding by DHB*

DHB	Numbers crowded				Percent crowded
	2006	2013	Change		2006	2013	% change
Northland	15,663	13,956	-1,707		11.9	10.2	-14.3
Waitemata	42,744	47,448	4,704		9.4	9.6	2.1
Auckland	61,047	62,136	1,089		16.5	15.5	-6.1
Counties Manukau	87,522	95,277	7,755		21.9	21.8	-0.5
Waikato	30,486	29,562	-924		9.7	8.9	-8.2
Bay of Plenty	17,217	16,905	-312		9.6	8.8	-8.3
Lakes	10,401	9,153	-1,248		11.6	10.3	-11.2
Tairawhiti	6,102	5,919	-183		15.2	14.8	-2.6
Taranaki	5,880	5,499	-381		6.1	5.4	-11.5
Whanganui	4,431	4,077	-354		7.8	7.4	-5.1
Hawke’s Bay	14,349	13,521	-828		10.5	9.7	-7.6
MidCentral	9,687	9,741	54		6.6	6.5	-1.5
Hutt Valley	13,638	12,696	-942		10.6	9.8	-7.5
Capital & Coast	22,335	22,623	288		9.0	8.6	-4.4
Wairarapa	1,914	1,881	-33		5.3	4.9	-7.5
Nelson Marlborough	6,162	5,985	-177		5.1	4.7	-7.8
West Coast	1,143	1,017	-126		4.1	3.6	-12.2
Canterbury	25,938	27,636	1,698		5.9	6.2	5.1
South Canterbury	1,470	1,785	315		2.9	3.4	17.2
Southern	11,256	11,283	27		4.3	4.1	-4.7
New Zealand	389,385	398,100	8,715		10.4	10.1	-2.9

* Household crowding (counting people) by DHB.