(A) Figures from the 1996 census indicate that there are just under 1.3 million private households in New Zealand. Of these, 73.9 percent contained at least one family, 5.4 percent were other multi-person house-holds, and the remaining 20.7 percent were one-person households. A census ‘household1 refers to the total number of occupants of a dwelling, who may or may not form a family. A 'family', for New Zealand census purposes, is defined as either a husband and a wife (in a legal or de facto marriage) with or without children of any age living in the dwelling, or a sole parent with children of any age living in the dwelling. In other words, to be a family member, a person must have either a husband-wife or parent- child relationship with another member of the household. (B) Although almost 74 percent of New Zealand household members live within a family unit, changing social patterns mean that the family unit has witnessed dramatic changes in its make-up. Traditionally in New Zealand, families are comprised of Mum, Dad and the children. At the time of the 1996 census, some 45 percent of all families fitted this pattern. Most family households contained only one family. Just 12.1 percent of family households contained two or more families, or other people in addition to a family. However, this level varied with family type. For example, around 1 in every 3 one-parent families shared a household with others. The average size of the New Zealand household has fallen from 3.5 in 1986 to 2.8 in 1996; over half of all households now contain only one or two people. (C) Couple-only families recorded the highest rate of growth between the 1991 and 1996 censuses, increasing by 15.5 percent. This trend has resulted from a combination of couples who have chosen to remain childless alongside growing numbers of 'empty nesters' (couples whose children have grown up and left home). The number of one-parent families rose by 10.9 percent between 1991 and 1996- much higher than the 0.6 percent increase in two-parent families, but significantly lower than the 28.7 percent increase in one-parent families recorded between the 1986 and 1991 censuses. Of those families with children, 79.6 percent contained at least one dependent child. Today's families are smaller, on the average, than those of the past. In 1996 there was an average of 1.95 children per family compared with 2.49 in 1966. More than half of one- parent families had only one child compared with just over a third of two-parent families. | (D) The 1996 census showed that 31 percent of New Zealanders aged 16 years and over had never been married, up from 23.1 percent in 1971. In 1996, 89.3 percent of 20 to 24-year-olds and 58.6 percent or 25 to 29-year-olds had never been married. Increasingly, people are rejecting or delaying legal marriage, opting instead for other partnerships. In 1996, 8.5 percent of people were living with a partner they were not married to, up from 3.8 percent in 1981. Young people dominate these types of relationships. Even though in 1996 only 9.5 percent of the 20 to 24 age group were married, a total of 29.5 percent were living with a partner. For those aged 25 to 29 years, just 36.2 percent were married, yet 57.9 percent were partnered. As a result of the combined effects of delayed marriage and remarriage, those who do marry are older. In 1968 the average age at marriage fell to its lowest point since 1945, at 26.3 years for men and 23.3 years for women. By 1996 it had risen to 33.5 and 30.7 years respectively. (E) Between 1960 and 1979 the divorce rate rose to reach 8.5 per 1000. The introduction of new legislation in 1980 caused a sharp, though temporary, rise in the divorce rate, peaking at 17.1 per 1000 in 1982. Since 1985 the divorce rate has remained fairly stable at around 12 per 1000. Even though fewer divorces now involve children than in the past (49.7 percent in 1996), around 9500 children were still affected in 1996. (F) Along with changes in marriage and divorce, fertility rates continue to affect the structure of New Zealand's families. Fertility levels peaked during the baby boom, the total fertility rate peaking at 4.3 in 1961. In 1996 the fertility rate was relatively stable at 2.0. Women are having children later, with the median age rising from a low of 24.8 years in 1972 to reach 28.8 years in 1996. In 1996, 40.1 percent of births were to mothers in their thirties compared with just 16.2 percent in 1976. Remarried women had more children (2.6 children) on average than women married for the first time (2.4) or those not married to their partner (1.2). |