The New Zealand Family and Social Change: A Trend Analysis. Occasional Papers in Sociology and Social Welfare No. 1.

Long term trends in non-Maori family formation, growth, and dissolution in New Zealand were investigated with data mainly derived from the statistical reports of government departments. Sources included census reports; vital, justice, medical, and migration statistics; life tables; and official yearbooks. To augment official statistical data, an interview survey was carried out in 1967. This survey was designed to collect information on the family formation patterns of various social subgroupings. Occupational status and fertility level were chosen as bases for differentiating subgroupings. After an introductory chapter describing the study, its setting, and the data and methods used, chapter 2 describes and analyzes trends in marriage patterns. Chapters 3 through 5 focus on aspects of family size, including a description of differential trends within population subgroupings and a comparison of differentials in the United States, Great Britain, and Australia. Chapter 6 provides information about birth timing, birth spacing, and household units. Divorce and mortality trends are described in chapter 7. The concluding chapter describes changes in family structure and discusses social and demographic influences on family formation patterns. Appended are survey questions, coding guidelines, and technical notes on statistical calculations. (RH)