Information for Assisted Completion Locations
Assisted Completion Locations (ACLs) provide accessible and trusted community locations where people can seek advice and support to complete their census.
Assistance comes in many forms including providing a computer, internet access, help with understanding, or to overcome language barriers. The level of assistance required may be different for each person and the aim is that people are supported to complete their census with independence and dignity. Because the census contains personal questions, sensitivity and discretion are advised in all cases.
If your organisation has agreed to be an ACL, you will receive:
- an information pack with 2023 Census promotional items including flyers and posters (some ACLs will also receive a 2023 Census flag)
- training, starting in mid-January.
On this page
Key dates
Key dates
- 7 February 2023
- Census public contact centre opens (0800 CENSUS/0800 236 787).
- 13 February 2023
- Delivery of census letters and packs begins.
- ACLs open.
- 7 March 2023
- Census Day.
- 7 April 2023
- ACLs close.
We expect the busiest period for ACLs will be the week before and after Census Day (7 March 2023).
Information session
Information session presentation
Assisted completion location information session presentation (PDF 1.3MB)
Privacy and security of census information
Stats NZ takes the privacy and confidentiality of survey respondents and the information they provide seriously. We work hard to meet our obligations under the Privacy Act 2020 and Data and Statistics Act 2022 and have appropriate measures and processes in place to protect people’s data and personal identity.
We are really grateful that you have agreed to help by assisting others to complete their census forms. This may involve others choosing to put their trust in you by sharing details about themselves when asking for assistance to complete census forms.
We ask that you respect the trust that others have placed in you by respecting their privacy through:
- not sharing any personal information you may see or hear as you assist others complete the census
- allowing individuals to complete their form in private where they do not wish to have an active assistance.
Step-by-step guide to completing a census form
Step-by-step guide to completing a census form
Download the step-by-step guide (A3 PDF, 441KB)
Has the person brought their paper forms or internet access code with them?
Yes: Completing census forms using own paper forms or internet access code
Step 1. Does the person want to complete their census using their paper forms or online using their internet access code?
Note: online completion of census forms is faster and returns the information to Stats NZ instantly.
- Answer a few questions about the household.
- Fill in the Dwelling Form.
- Fill in Individual Form.
Step 2. Check what type of assistance the person needs. Access tools and resources at www.census.govt.nz as needed.
Step 3. Ensure the person’s privacy is protected and no one else can overhear or look at the person’s information.
Step 4. Open paper forms pack and note there are comprehensive Guide Notes in the pack to support the completion of some questions.
Step 5. The person needs to complete the Dwelling Form (orange form).
Step 6. The person needs to complete an Individual Form (pink form). The person can also complete Individual Forms for other members of their household staying the night of Tuesday, 7 March 2023.
Step 7. Put completed forms into the pre-paid envelope provided in the forms pack and post back to Stats NZ.
Step 2. Provide the level of assistance that is required.
Step 3. Ensure the person’s privacy is protected and no one else can overhear or look at the person’s information.
Step 4. If the person has their own device, connect them to the wifi. If the person needs to use a computer provided by the ACL, enable access and make sure the computer is connected to the internet.
Step 5. Open an internet browser and go to www.census.govt.nz, select ‘Start your census’.
Step 6. Enter the household’s internet access code. This code can be found on the cover letter of the forms pack or in the letter they received.
Step 7. Answer the questions and select ‘Submit’ for each completed form.
The person can also complete Individual Forms for other members of their household staying the night of Tuesday, 7 March 2023.
Step 8. Once completed make sure the forms have been submitted – click ‘Submit’ and close the Stats NZ webpage.
No: Request paper forms or internet access code
Step 1. Does the person want to complete their census using paper forms or online using an internet access code?
Note: It is faster to complete census forms online, it returns the information to Stats NZ instantly. Paper forms will be mailed and will take a few days to arrive at the person’s address.
- Bilingual English / te reo Māori standard print
- English standard print
- English Large Print (18 pt font)
- Enter the internet access code.
- Answer the questions and select ‘Submit’ for each completed form.
- Answer a few questions about the household.
- Fill in the Dwelling Form.
- Fill in Individual Form.
Step 2. Paper forms can be requested including:
A copy of the questions can be provided in Braille.
Step 3. Ensure the person’s privacy is protected and no one else can overhear or look at the person’s information.
Step 4. Assist the person to: Call 0800 CENSUS (0800 236 787) on their own phone or go to www.census.govt.nz on their own device or ACL computer and select ‘Start your census’ then ‘Request paper forms’.
Step 5. A delivery address (including postcode) is required, so have this ready. Start typing the address in the ‘Enter the address you are requesting forms for’ field – the address should appear as you type. If the address does not appear, the person doesn’t have an address or they indicate it is a PO Box and/or sometimes not found by the postie, it is best to call 0800 CENSUS (0800 236 787).
Step 6. Forms will be mailed out to the address provided. Once received, they can come back to your ACL for further assistance or complete the forms themselves at home.
(A mobile phone is required to receive the access code via text.)
Step 2. Check what type of assistance the person needs. Access tools and resources at www.census.govt.nz as needed.
Step 3. Ensure the person’s privacy is protected and no one else can overhear or look at the person’s information.
Step 4. If the person has their own device, connect them to the wifi. If the person needs to use a computer provided by the ACL, enable access and make sure the computer is connected to the internet.
Step 5. Call 0800 CENSUS (0800 236 787) or open an internet browser and go to www.census.govt.nz, select ‘Start your census’.
Step 6. Select ‘Request an access code’. Start typing the address in the ‘Enter the address you are requesting forms for’ field, and the address should appear as you type. If the address does not appear, the person doesn’t have an address or they indicate it is a PO Box and/or sometimes not found by the postie, it is best to call 0800 CENSUS (0800 236 787).
Step 7. Enter the mobile phone number and select ‘send one-time pin’.
Step 8. The one-time pin will be texted to the mobile number provided. Enter the one-time pin and select ‘Submit’.
Step 9. Submitting the one-time pin generates the internet access code that will be texted to the mobile number provided.
Step 10. Select ‘log in’ and this will open the log in page.
The person can also complete Individual Forms for other members of their household staying the night of Tuesday, 7 March 2023.
Step 11. Once completed make sure the forms have been submitted. Click ‘Submit’ and close the Stats NZ webpage.
Video walkthrough of completing the 2023 Census online
This video shows the process of completing the 2023 Census online for a private dwelling.
It is included for your reference as an ACL. Please do not share it as an instructional video for people wanting to complete the census. We will share other resources for this purpose soon.
- English standard print
- Bilingual English/te reo Māori standard print
- English Large Print (18 pt font)
ACLs open on 13 February 2023. This is the same day delivery of census letters and packs begins.
ACLs close on 7 April 2023.
Everyone who is in Aotearoa New Zealand on Census Day, 7 March 2023.
Census Collectors will wear branded uniforms like these. They will also carry a Stats NZ ID with their name, a photo, and an ID number. You can confirm the ID is genuine by calling our contact centre with the ID number.
Yes.
Yes. They must complete the first nine questions of the Individual Form.
No. Census forms must not be photocopied for any reason. This is because each form has a unique QR code that links the form to an address.
No. Paper census forms will not be provided to ACLs. You can support people to complete the paper census forms they bring themselves or help them order paper forms.
You can also support people to do the census online using the private access code printed on their census letter. Or you can help them request an access code.
Please see the ‘Step-by-step guide to completing a census form’ for information about how to support someone to fill out their census forms.
People can complete their census forms online in English or te reo Māori.
There are three different options for paper forms:
A Braille copy of the census questions is also available on request.
The census website has guidance and information in 27 different languages, in addition to English and te reo Māori. This includes New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) videos.
When you visit the census website, a pop-up box will ask you to select your default language (English or te reo Māori). The homepage will then be shown.
Alternate formats (including Easy Read and Audio) and translated material in other languages can be located through the ‘Languages’ button on the top right-hand side of the menu bar.
The 0800 CENSUS (0800 236 787) freephone helpline will also provide support in nine different languages (English, te reo Māori, Samoan, Tongan, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Hindi, and Punjabi). The helpline opens 7 February 2023.
You can find resources and promotional materials at www.census.govt.nz/census-resources to help promote the census in your community.
Posters and flyers
You can download A3 posters and A5 flyers about the 2023 Census in English, te reo Māori and 26 other languages from this section.
You can also download A3 posters promoting your ACL in the same languages. Enter any relevant details about your location in the white space.
If you require files for professional print (with bleed and trim marks), please contact mel.branch@stats.govt.nz.
A5 2023 Census flyer (PDF 715KB)
A3 2023 Census poster (PDF 1932KB)
A5 2023 Census flyer (PDF 715KB)
A3 2023 Census poster (PDF 1870KB)
Arabic
A3 2023 Census poster (PDF 1980KB)
A5 2023 Census flyer (PDF 784KB)
Chinese (Simplified)
A3 2023 Census poster (PDF 1968KB)
A5 2023 Census flyer (PDF 779KB)
Chinese (Traditional)
A3 2023 Census poster (PDF 1970KB)
A5 2023 Census flyer (PDF 785Kb)
Cook Islands Māori
A3 2023 Census poster (PDF 1935KB)
A5 2023 Census flyer (PDF 715KB)
Farsi
A3 2023 Census poster (PDF 1.9MB)
A5 2023 Census flyer (PDF 771KB)
Fijian
A3 2023 Census poster (PDF 1934KB)
A5 2023 Census flyer (PDF 715KB)
French
A3 2023 Census poster (PDF 1934KB)
A5 2023 Census flyer (PDF 716KB)
Gujarati
A3 2023 Census poster (PDF 1921KB)
A5 2023 Census flyer (PDF 713KB)
Hindi
A3 2023 Census poster (PDF 1877KB)
A5 2023 Census flyer (PDF 730KB)
Japanese
A3 2023 Census poster (PDF 1885KB)
A5 2023 Census flyer (PDF 749KB)
Kiribati
A3 2023 Census poster (PDF 1933KB)
A5 2023 Census flyer (PDF 715KB)
Korean
A3 2023 Census poster (PDF 1876KB)
A5 2023 Census flyer (PDF 732KB)
Punjabi
A3 2023 Census poster (PDF 1882KB)
A5 2023 Census flyer (PDF 727KB)
Rotuman
A3 2023 Census poster (PDF 1938KB)
A5 2023 Census flyer (PDF 722KB)
Samoan
A3 2023 Census poster (PDF 1933KB)
A5 2023 Census flyer (PDF 698KB)
Somali
A3 2023 Census poster (PDF 1934KB)
A5 2023 Census flyer (PDF 716KB)
Spanish
A3 2023 Census poster (PDF 1934KB)
A5 2023 Census flyer (PDF 719KB)
Tagalog
A3 2023 Census poster (PDF 1934KB)
A5 2023 Census flyer (PDF 716KB)
Tamil
A3 2023 Census poster (PDF 1912KB)
A5 2023 Census flyer (PDF 733KB)
Thai
A3 2023 Census poster (PDF 1941KB)
A5 2023 Census flyer (PDF 738KB)
Tokelau
A3 2023 Census poster (PDF 1933KB)
A5 2023 Census flyer (PDF 698KB)
Tongan
A3 2023 Census poster (PDF 1934KB)
A5 2023 Census flyer (PDF 720KB)
Tuvalu
A3 2023 Census poster (PDF 1933KB)
A5 2023 Census flyer (PDF 714KB)
Urdu
A3 2023 Census poster (PDF 2088KB)
A5 2023 Census flyer (PDF 766KB)
Vagahau Niue
A3 2023 Census poster (PDF 1934KB)
A5 2023 Census flyer (PDF 715KB)
Vietnamese
A3 2023 Census poster (PDF 1934KB)
A5 2023 Census flyer (PDF 715KB)