The first data from the 2023 Census will be published in one week, on 29 May 2024, thanks to everyone who took part, Stats NZ said today.
"Delivering next week's release of census data has been a top priority for Stats NZ. It is important to us to give back to the people and communities who supported the census collection effort in 2023," Government Statistician and Stats NZ Chief Executive, Mark Sowden said.
"I want to thank the hundreds of community organisations who stood with us, and for their communities, helping people take part in the 2023 Census. I would especially like to thank Te Kāhui Raraunga and the iwi involved in Te Mana Whakatipu iwi-led collections in three locations in the North Island.
"The 2023 Census campaign centred around the concept 'Tatau tātou - All of us count', recognising that every person had a part to play in making the census a success and ensuring that the data and statistics produced represent them, their families and whānau, and their communities.
"Thank you to the people of Aotearoa New Zealand for sharing your information so we can understand more about who we are as a nation now, and how we are changing as a country over time."
The first data from the 2023 Census includes key counts of the population, which is the primary purpose of the census.
"The data is a public good and we are making it available now. There is more to come, with detailed statistical releases later this year," Sowden said.
"This data will be important for decisions based on population counts at a regional council and territorial authority/local board level. This includes decisions about local infrastructure and funding for services based on ethnic groupings and age."
In the 2023 Census, Stats NZ worked closely with around 1,200 census partners, community organisations, community collectives, and iwi, hapū, and marae. This collaboration involved:
- delivering over 1,400 'assisted completion events' where people could get help to fill out their census forms
- working with community partners to provide 770 regional locations with local help during the census
- Stats NZ staff attending over 4,000 community events and meetings to build awareness of, and encourage participation in, the census.
Stats NZ continues to work with more than 600 community organisations at a regional level, to understand their data needs, support use of 2023 Census data, and build capability with the data and statistics outputs Stats NZ produces.
"Stats NZ is currently inviting the people of New Zealand, community organisations, iwi, and census customers to share their thoughts about the next census," Sowden said.
"We continue to work with our census partners and stakeholders, to ensure they have a say about how we can better meet their needs through a modernised census."
People can join the conversation 'Your data, your views' online at www.facebook.com/StatisticsNZ or make a formal submission at Modernising our approach to the 2028 Census.
The first release of 2023 Census data will happen at 10.45am Wednesday 29 May 2024, with data available via www.stats.govt.nz.
2023 Census - Thank you Aotearoa is a video from Stats NZ thanking communities and the people of Aotearoa New Zealand for taking part.
