2013 Census
The next census will be held on Tuesday, 5 March 2013. A media release about the announcement of the census date is available here.
The 8 March 2011 Census was called off following the 22 February earthquake in Christchurch. At that time, the 2011 Census could not have been successfully completed, given the national state of emergency and the probable impact on census results.
What is the census?
The census is the official count of how many people and dwellings there are in New Zealand. It takes a snapshot of the people in New Zealand and the places where we live.
By law, Statistics NZ must hold a census once every five years, and everyone must fill in a form.
Why is it important?
Population information from the census helps determine how billions of dollars of government funding is spent in the community. It is used to make decisions about services such as:
- hospitals
- schools
- roads
- public transport
- recreational facilities.
Census information is used to decide electoral boundaries. It is also used by councils, community groups and businesses to plan for the future.