Fale Pasifika to bring extra census support to Te Tai Tokerau
Community organisation Fale Pasifika Te Tai Tokerau will be out and about helping the people of Northland complete their 2023 Census, thanks to a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed today with Stats NZ.
20 January 2023
The MoU is the first 2023 Census collaboration agreement that Stats NZ has signed with a Northland-based Pacific organisation.
“The 2023 Census is all about making sure every single one of us, across the length of Aotearoa New Zealand, is counted and represented. With the signing of this MoU, Stats NZ and Fale Pasifika will work together to support Pacific and other communities in Te Tai Tokerau to fill out the census,” said Simon Mason, Stats NZ Deputy Government Statistician and Deputy Chief Executive for Census and Collection Operations.
“As one of the largest Pacific organisations in the region, Stats NZ is delighted to have Fale Pasifika on board and is looking forward to collaborating to help the people of Northland be counted.”
Johnny Kumitau, Fale Pasifika Leveki – Manager, added: “The last census did not deliver as needed for our Pacific communities. Stats NZ has taken on board the lessons from that census and I am confident that the 2023 Census is one that will work for Pacific peoples, in Te Tai Tokerau and throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.
“I encourage the people of Te Tai Tokerau to fill out the census so they, and their communities, are represented in the data. Fale Pasifika will be out in the community in the weeks leading up to Census Day to provide the support you need to take part in the census.”
Staff from Fale Pasifika, with support from Stats NZ, will be present at assisted completion events in Whangarei, Kaipara, and the Far North in the lead-up to the census. People can come to an assisted completion event for help with filling out their census forms. These events will be held at churches, community spaces, and other locations, as well as the Northland Pasifika Fusion Festival on Saturday 4 March.
In addition, the Fale Pasifika office (22 Rust Ave, Whangarei) will act as a hub for census support, where people can come for advice and support for completing their forms.
Census Day is Tuesday 7 March, 2023.