The Survey
The Active NZ Survey consists of two data collection methods:
- a sport and recreation survey; and
- a seven-day physical activity recall diary.
The Active NZ Survey collected information about all physical activity domains (i.e. sport and recreation, active travel including walking or cycling to a destination, occupational activity and incidental activities like washing the car). The survey also assessed the intensity at which people did physical activities, whether adults were members of clubs or centres to do sport and recreation activities and the type and level of sport and recreation volunteering.
The Sample
Data were collected from 4,443 New Zealand adults aged 16 years and over through face-to-face interviews. The interviews were completed over a 12-month period beginning March 2007. An overall response rate of 61 percent was achieved. The data have been weighted to be representative of the New Zealand adult population.
Sample profile
| |
Number interviewed (n) |
Weighted sample (n) |
| Total Population |
4,443 |
3,275,730 |
| Gender |
|
|
| Men |
1,857 |
1,582,670 |
| Women |
2,586 |
1,693,060 |
| Age |
|
|
| 16-24 |
523 |
549,492 |
| 25-34 |
713 |
544,391 |
| 35-49 |
1,288 |
946,050 |
| 50-64 |
948 |
708,461 |
| ≥ 65 |
971 |
527,336 |
| Ethnicity |
|
|
| NZ European |
3,056 |
2,288,363 |
| Māori |
783 |
399,125 |
| Pacific |
274 |
185,532 |
| Asian |
361 |
317,530 |
| Other |
295 |
257,178 |
Ethnic-Specific Data
The ethnic groupings represented in this report are Maori, New Zealand European, Pacific and Asian. The Other ethnic group includes mainly Middle- Eastern, Latin American and African ethnicities.
To provide a representative picture of ethnic affiliation, participants could report multiple ethnicities. This means that the same person can be represented in different ethnic groups (e.g. Maori and New Zealand European). Consequently, the sum of the ethnic group populations exceeds the total New Zealand population.
Percent estimates for each ethnic group should only be compared with percent estimates for the total population and not between ethnic groups (e.g. comparing Maori and Pacific data).
Margin of Error
Percent estimates based on the total Active NZ Survey sample (n=4,443) are subject to a margin of error of ± 2 percent.
Interpretation: For a percent estimate of 64.1 percent (i.e. percent of adults who participated in walking as a sport or recreation activity; page 6), the true estimate lies somewhere between 62.1 percent and 66.1 percent.