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Wellington, March 8, 2023
People who missed out on completing their census forms by Census Day, Tuesday 7 March 2023, still have time to take part and be counted.
Deputy Government Statistician and Deputy Chief Executive for Census and Collection Operations at Statistics New Zealand Simon Mason said that on Census Day every person in New Zealand is asked to complete the five-yearly census.
The data collected helps to obtain up-to-date information, he said.
By the end of Census Day, 2.6 million people had completed their Individual Census Form, with forms also completed for the dwellings where people live or stay.
A majority (97%) of the forms received to date have been completed online.
“It was great to see so many people fill in their forms by census night. I want to thank everyone in Aotearoa New Zealand who took the time to be counted. The few minutes you spent doing your forms will help bring tangible benefits to our country for years and years,” Mr Mason said.
He said that the 2023 Census is a mixed online and paper form census.
“A lot of people will have completed their forms on paper and these need to now be mailed back to Stats New Zealand to be included in the census. There is also still time and lots of help available for people if they have misplaced their forms or need some assistance to complete their forms,” he said.
Reminders to people
The 0800CENSUS helpline is open seven days a week, census collectors will be out in communities following up with people who have not yet responded, and there will be reminder letters coming out with new access codes if people that need them.
“Following the very high peak volumes of calls and online activity on census night, people can continue to submit their forms online, or request an access code and have it sent to their mobile phone for instant action. If filling your forms out online, remember to complete each form in one sitting,” Mr Mason said.
People in areas impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle will be provided with more time and more support to take part in the census.
Mr Mason said that Statistics New Zealand is working with communities to ensure that people impacted by the cyclone and recent flooding have the time they need to focus on family and their homes and businesses.
“Most people in these regions will not yet have census forms, although some have completed the census. Census collection in these areas is being designed with community organisations to get the timing right and to ensure the right support is in place for people. The results of the census will be critically important in supporting communities across Aotearoa New Zealand and supporting the recovery of cyclone-Impacted regions,” he said.
For more information: www.census.govt.nz; www.stats.govt.nz/2023-census
