Data Information
The MacroAuckland data is designed to provide a self-guided database for donors and funders, which broadly covers Auckland’s social issues by geography, demography and issue. This section provides some guidance about the MacroAuckland data.
The key features of the MacroAuckland data system are:
- It uses a wide range of subjective and objective data derived from recent surveys
- It is based on small area data where this is possible – with census data analysed at census area unit level and survey data at old ward level (where these are available)
- It includes information from studies which aren’t closely tied into an indicator framework
- It combines, compares and contrasts data and information from over 200 diverse sources
- It analyses the research through a philanthropic lens
Types of Study
MacroAuckland draws on several social research methodologies including:
- Community needs assessment: Systematically identifying and assessing ‘gaps’ in social conditions or community needs and what can be done to mitigate these.
- Social Indicators/monitoring: Researching subjective and objective measures of social wellbeing on a regular basis in order to understand changes in social conditions.
- Community Profiling: Quantitative descriptive profiling of communities to ascertain their type and processes of change in them
- Social Area Analysis: Quantitative analysis of the underlying characteristics of communities
- Web-raising (or Community Infometrics): Drawing on a range of views and compiling this information for a website providing information about a place.
International Models
- MacroMelbourne - by Melbourne Community Foundation - http://www.communityfoundation.org.au/macromelbourne
- Vital Signs Study – by Vancouver Foundation - http://www.vancouverfoundationvitalsigns.ca/
- Creating A Truly Healthy City - by United Way in Sydney - http://www.commoncause.com.au
Issue Areas
The MacroAuckland report is organised in terms of 9 sections (which are broadly derived from those used in the Social Report and Big City Quality of Life reports and the international best practice models outlines above).
Types of Question in Each Section:
It is possible to include a variety of information about each aspect of Auckland. The accompanying table indicates some of the possibilities and which we have prioritised in the report.
Priority | Question |
Essential | What are the social/community concerns of interest? |
Moderate | Why are these of interest? |
Low | How is it measured? i.e. 'indicators' |
High | Which of Auckland’s communities is disproportionately over/under represented? |
Low | How does Auckland compare to rest of NZ/other NZ cities (sometimes internationally)? |
High | What is the spatial variation within Auckland? |
Moderate | What does the change over time look like? |
Moderate | How might it change into future? |
Moderate | What is variation on this indicator in terms of other social characteristics? |
Low | any other interesting social facts, ideas etc re this goal |
Layers of Information:
Depending on how much detail is important to a reader they may ‘drill down’ to various levels:
- Summary report
- Extended web-site only version
- Summary tables of various census, survey and other data for spatial areas
- Appendix maps including interactive maps of various census, survey and other data for spatial areas
The Census Data Tables (Appendix A3) have been cross-tabulated in the following ways:
- Old TLAs
- Urban area zones
- Distance from downtown CBD (in blocks of 10kms)
- Deprivation level
- Resilience level
- Ethnic mix
Spatial Organisation of Data
Statistics differ in the extent to which they are available at more granulated levels and the extent to which they follow more official boundaries – especially local authority boundaries. The census and many other Statistics NZ statistics are organised in terms of the (former) Local Authorities, while some are available only for the Auckland Region as a whole. In the future (and some previous statistics have been reconstituted on these new boundaries) the new system of wards, local boards and subdivisions will be used for presenting within-Auckland statistics. There is a broad degree of overlap between the former and present boundaries.
Census data in particular is available at meshblock, census area unit (‘suburb’), ward, local authority and regional levels. The MacroAuckland data system covers a range of these. Statistics NZ has its own definitions of urban areas (the built up areas of the 4 parts of Auckland are termed ‘Zones’) and the urban/rural character of particular census area units and these classifications are drawn on in some tables.
Note that some data has its own statistical areas. Examples include: Police (offences), courts (Offenders), Housing, Work and Income New Zealand service areas, District Health Board areas.
Limitations and Error
In using the data assembled for MacroAuckland several sources of error may arise and caution in interpretation is urged:
- Timeliness of data. Where possible the latest data has been obtained, however some data is relatively old and things may have changed since it was collected. An example of this is the latest census data which is from 2006.
- Inaccuracies in original recording of data, especially by busy field staff.
- Varying definitions leading to a lack of clarity. We recommend going to the source data to confirm definitions. The report is extensively referenced to allow easy access to data and research.
- Variation in sample sizes across multiple sources of data.