What you need to know
The New Zealand Household Travel Survey measures the travel New Zealanders do by asking everyone in randomly selected households to record their travel over 2 days.
The results offer valuable insights into how, when and why New Zealanders travel and how this changes. It provides vital information for developing road safety, roading, public transport, pedestrian and cycling policies.
The survey has run in a range of forms since 1989, mainly focusing on a 2 day travel diary. In 2015, the methodology was changed to collect 7 days of travel information. However, in July 2018 we changed this back to 2 days to make it easier for participants and get better data quality.
The work to date
Household Travel Survey methodology updated
From July 2018, we changed the survey back to a face to face survey, asking people about 2 days of their travel.
Travel Research Panel established
We invited Household Travel Survey participants to take part in further surveys as part of a Travel Research Panel.
Willing Household Travel Survey participants are invited to take part in a variety of short surveys to allow deeper research into people’s attitudes to transport, what might influence travel in their daily lives and any travel patterns.
Household Travel Survey updated to a 7 day online travel diary and run
In October 2015, we changed the survey from a face to face survey with a 2 day travel diary to a 7-day travel diary completed online. Participants were also offered the option of using a Travel Logger (GPS device) to help them remember where they travelled.
25 Years of New Zealand Travel report published
This report looked at New Zealanders’ travel over the past 25 years, between 1989 and 2014.
How New Zealanders Travel report published
This one-off report looked at New Zealanders’ travel patterns and how they changed over the 20 years up to 2008.
Household Travel Survey 2003–2014
Using the same core questionnaire and methodology as the 1997/98 and 1989/90 surveys, this survey was designed to sample a smaller number of households each year so data from a number of years could be combined for analysis.
The 1997/98 New Zealand Travel Survey and report published
The New Zealand Travel Survey provided data to help develop policy and evaluate programmes relating to road use and safety.
It was a one-off survey using similar methodology to the 1989/90 Household Travel Survey.
1989/90 New Zealand Household Travel Survey and report published
The New Zealand Household Travel survey was carried out from July 1989 to June 1990.
Households were randomly selected with travel recorded for all members of the household over the age of 5.
Get in touch
The survey is conducted by Ipsos, (formerly CBG Research). Participants should contact Ipsos if they have any question about the survey.
Telephone: 0800 478 783
For general queries about the survey and results, email: travelsurvey@transport.govt.nz