Statistics New Zealand uses the census information to tell us about many different aspects of our society. The 2011 census had to be cancelled because of the Christchurch earthquake so the last census was in 2006. This information is therefore six years old but probably nothing much has changed in that time. In fact, the situation concerning crowded homes has got worse with the shortage of houses in Auckland and Christchurch.
First, how does Statistics New Zealand decide if a home is crowded? They use a Canadian measure which says that there should be no more than two people in a bedroom, a child under five can share a room with another child of the opposite sex but older children should share with someone of the same sex. Teenagers who are 18 or over should have a room of their own.
Using this measure, the census showed that Pacific Island families live in the most crowded conditions in New Zealand, especially Tongans. One in every two Tongan homes is crowded. One in three African families and one in four Maori families live in crowded homes. Many of the Pacific Island homes have multi-families in the same house, perhaps families of relatives. Most people living in crowded homes rent their house. Most houses for rent are three bedroom houses and these are not big enough for large families or for multi-families. Most of the people living in crowded homes also have a low income and cannot afford to heat their homes well.
Another group of people who live in crowded conditions are Chinese in the 20 to 24 age group. Most of these are students. Recent migrants also live in crowded homes. For both these groups, this is a short-term problem.
When people, especially children, live in crowded and damp conditions, it is very easy for infectious diseases to spread. These are diseases which affect the lungs like bronchitis and tuberculosis (TB) and other serious diseases like meningococcal disease and rheumatic fever.
Vocabulary
• census – the government collects statistics about the people who live in a country.
• shortage – not enough
• short-term – maybe a year or two but not many years
• damp – wet, has too much moisture in the house e.g. water inside on windows and walls
• infectious – one person can give this disease to another person through touch or coughing
• bronchitis – air passages to the lungs are inflamed (swollen)
• TB – caused by bacteria
• meningococcal disease – caused by bacteria, can lead to death if not treated
• rheumatic fever – can develop after an infection like a sore throat
Questions
1. Do you agree with the Canadian definition of a home which is not crowded?
2. Spreading disease is one problem of living in crowded conditions.
3. What are other problems?