2023 New Zealand census

The 2023 New Zealand census, which took place on 7 March 2023,[1] was the thirty-fifth national census in New Zealand. It implemented measures that aimed to increase the Census' effectiveness in response to the issues faced with the 2018 census, including supporting Māori to complete the census.[2][3] It also included new questions on topics such as gender, sexual identity, and disabilities/health conditions.[4]

Thirty-fifth census of New Zealand
7 March 2023 (2023-03-07)
General information
CountryNew Zealand

Conducting the census

The 2023 census can be completed online or on paper forms. Forms with an access code were mailed out to householders from 20 February, but paper forms could be requested online or by telephone. The telephone number had operators speaking English, te reo Māori, Samoan, Tongan, Korean, Mandarin, Cantonese, Hindi, and Punjabi. New Zealand Sign Language was available through NZ Relay. One dwelling form was required for each household, and one individual form was required for each person present in the dwelling on Tuesday 7 March 2023. The census closed on 30 June 2023.

History

Background
This section is an excerpt from New Zealand census § History.[edit]

The first full census in New Zealand was conducted in 1851, and the census was triennial until 1881, at which time it became five-yearly. The 1931 census was cancelled due to the effects of the Great Depression,[5] as was the 1941 census due to World War II.[6] The 1946 census was brought forward to Tuesday 25 September 1945, so that the results could be used for an electoral redistribution (the first for ten years) before the 1946 election.

1951 was the first year in which Māori and European New Zealanders were treated equally, with European New Zealanders having had a different census form in previous years and separate censuses in the nineteenth century. Results for those censuses before 1966 have been destroyed with a few exceptions and those since will not be available before 2066.[7]

The 2006 census was held on Tuesday, 7 March. For the first time, respondents had the option of completing their census form online rather than by a printed form.

The 2011 census was scheduled for Tuesday, 8 March. However, due to the Christchurch earthquake on 22 February 2011, it was cancelled.[8] For the first time ever, all 2011 census forms would have been digitally archived.[9] On 27 May 2011 Statistics New Zealand announced that a census would take place in March 2013.[10] The legislation required to change the census date was introduced to Parliament in August 2011.[11]

The 2013 census was held on Tuesday 5 March 2013 and the 2018 census was held on Tuesday 6 March 2018.[12] The 2018 census faced wide criticism for low response rates, a poor rollout of the online component of the census and delays.[13][14] This resulted in an independent review of the census process, and the resignation of the then-Chief Executive of Statistics New Zealand Liz MacPherson.[15]

The date for the 2023 New Zealand census was announced by Stats NZ on 28 September 2022.[16]

Cyclone Gabrielle

In February 2023, Cyclone Gabrielle had devastated parts of the North Island, prompting the Government to declare a national state of emergency in six regions.[17] To address the disruption caused by Cyclone Gabrielle, the Government had agreed to an eight week extension of the census for the worst affected areas.[18] People living in cyclone-affected areas including the Far North District, Gisborne District, and Hawkes Bay have until 1 June to complete their Census.[19]

In addition, Statistics New Zealand asked the Government for an extra NZ$37 million to cover extra costs. Face-to-face visits were also delayed in some affected areas. Field operations in Gisborne and Hawkes Bay commenced on 3 April.[17]

Participation rates

On 6 March 2023, Radio New Zealand reported that just one million New Zealanders had filled out their census forms. Statistics New Zealand's deputy chief executive census and collections operation, Simon Mason, described the response as underwhelming and attributed the lower response rate to the disruption caused by Cyclone Gabrielle and opposition by some on social media to participating in the census. In response to criticism of the 2018 New Zealand census, Mason confirmed that Statistics NZ had sent two forms in the post to bolster public engagement.[18]

By 31 March, Statistics NZ had confirmed that four million people had returned their census forms; beating the 30 April milestone for the 2018 census. On 5 April, Newsroom reported that one in five people had not returned their census forms, with the figure rising to two in five people within the Māori and Pacific communities. Newsroom also reported low rates of participation in Gisborne and Hawkes Bay; with 26,200 out of Gisborne's estimated total population of 52,100 and 89,300 out of Hawkes Bay's population of 182,700 returning their survey forms.[17]

According to Newsroom, Statistics NZ had fallen behind its target of visiting all non-responding and partially responding households by nine days after 7 March. By 31 March, 29,000 dwellings outside Te Mana Whakatipu, Gisborne, and Hawkes Bay had not received their first visit. Mason also confirmed that census workers had made 1.3 million non-response follow-up visits to 790,000 dwellings by 31 March. In an effort to boost participation, Statistics NZ deployed over 3,000 census collectors in the community until 3 May and until 1 June in Hawkes Bay and Gisborne. Mason also confirmed that Statistics NZ would focus on supporting under-represented groups including Māori.[17]

By 20 April, Statistics NZ confirmed that 4.3 million people had returned their census forms while one in five respondents had not returned their forms. The Bay of Plenty Times reported that 274,300 had returned their forms by 19 April. However, 73,400 forms had not been returned; with 37,300 of these non-respondents being Māori and 17,700 being youths. Non-respondents face a NZ$2,000 fine under the Data and Statistics Act 2022.[19]

By 1 May, Statistics NZ confirmed that 4,408,894 people out of an estimated population of 5.15 million had returned their census forms. Statistics NZ spokesperson Tracy Dillimore confirmed that the national Census response rate was 86%. Deputy government statistician Simon Mason warned that people who had not completed their census forms would receive a final notice from 9 May.[20]

National Party statistics spokesperson Simon Watts described the 2023 Census as a failure and doubted that Statistics NZ would reach its 90% target. Watts also disputed Statistic NZ's position that Cyclone Gabrielle had disrupted the census collection process, pointing out that most of the uncompleted forms were from major cities with lower completion rates among Māori and Pasifika. Watts estimated that the 2023 Census would cost NZ$337 million, including the extra NZ$37 million requested by Statistics NZ. By contrast, the Minister of Statistics Deborah Russell claimed that the 2023 Census was an improvement over the 2018 Census, citing the former's 86% response rate in comparison with the latter's overall response rate of 81.6%.[20]

By 20 May, 4.5 million census forms (covering 88% of the population) had been returned. According to Deputy Government Statistician Simon Mason, 55,000 final notice packs had been sent to non-responding households. At the time, 25% of Māori and Pasifika had not returned their census forms. During the 2023 census, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui trialled a "by Māori, for Māori" census collection drive in East Cape, Te Tai Rāwhiti and parts of Te Tai Tokerau. Data Iwi Leaders Forum spokesperson Rahui Papa credited the "by Māori, for Māori" drive with ensuring a 90% Māori uptake in the East Cape.[21]

References
  1. Piper, Denise (24 January 2023). "Cheat Sheet: Everything you need to know about the 2023 Census". Stuff. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  2. Fallon, Virginia (4 February 2023). "Census 2023 will do better, especially for Māori, Stats NZ says". Stuff. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  3. "Next Census date announced with new measures after poor 2018 turnout". 1 News. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  4. "What is new about the 2023 Census". 2023 Census | Aotearoa New Zealand. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  5. McRobie 1989, p. 91.
  6. McRobie 1989, p. 95.
  7. "New Zealand Genealogy". Genealogylinks.net. Retrieved 8 March 2015.
  8. "Christchurch quake – census cancelled". 3 News. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 25 February 2011.
  9. "What happens to your census forms?". Statistics New Zealand. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 16 February 2011.
  10. "Census preparation underway". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 27 May 2011.
  11. "Duties of Statutory Officers (Census and Other Remedial Provisions) Bill (2011)". New Zealand Parliamentary Counsel Office. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  12. "2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  13. "Next Census date announced with new measures after poor 2018 turnout". 1 News. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  14. Fallon, Virginia (4 February 2023). "Census 2023 will do better, especially for Māori, Stats NZ says". Stuff. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  15. "Government's top statistician resigns in wake of Census 2018 debacle". 1 News. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  16. "2023 Census announced | Stats NZ". www.stats.govt.nz. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  17. Williams, David (5 April 2023). "Census turnout low despite $37m blowout". Newsroom. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  18. "1m and counting: Time ticking on filling in 2023 census". Radio New Zealand. 6 March 2023. Archived from the original on 13 March 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  19. "Census: More than 70,000 Bay of Plenty people have yet to return their forms". Bay of Plenty Times. NZME. 20 April 2023. Archived from the original on 21 April 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  20. Pullar--Strecker, Tom (1 May 2023). "2023 Census heading for failure, forecasts National". Stuff. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  21. "Final notices sent as Census deadline extended for some regions". Radio New Zealand. 20 May 2023. Archived from the original on 22 May 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2023.

Works cited
  • McRobie, Alan (1989). Electoral Atlas of New Zealand. Wellington: GP Books. ISBN 0-477-01384-8.
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