How to do the census Me pēhea te whakamahi i te tatauranga

Who needs to do the census

A census form needs to be completed for every person who is in the country on Census Night, Tuesday 7 March 2023.

How to do the census online

Doing the census online is quick, easy, and secure. Find out how you can take part.

How to do the census on paper

Everyone can choose to do the census on paper. Find out how it works.

How you will get your 2023 Census forms

We are delivering census packs from 13 February 2023. Find out how you might receive yours.

What questions are in the 2023 Census

Preview all the questions in the 2023 Census. Each question has information about why we ask it, and some have tips for answering them.

Census support events and locations

Events and places in communities around Aotearoa New Zealand where you can get support to complete your census forms.

Alternate formats

2023 Census information and census questions in alternate formats.

New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL)

Information about the 2023 Census in New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL).

About the census Mō te tatauranga

What is the census?

The census is a nationwide survey that provides an official count of people and dwellings in Aotearoa New Zealand. It gives a snapshot of life, people, and communities every five years.

What is new about the 2023 Census

Many parts of the 2023 Census are the same as past censuses. But we are doing some things in new ways. These will make it easier to take part, and for us all to see ourselves in the data collected.

Promote the census in your community

Images, posters, flyers, social media assets, and copy to promote the census to your networks and communities, and in your workplaces.

Doing the 2023 Census

Find out how we will deliver the 2023 Census, what you will need to do, and how to do it.

Privacy and safety Tūmataitinga me te haumaru

Privacy, security, and confidentiality principles

Laws and standards keep your data safe.

Collecting your information safely

We know your information is important to you. That is why it is important to us to look after it.

Protecting your information

We have processes and systems to store data securely and to protect your identity when we release census data.

2023 Census support Āwhina Tatauranga 2023

You can contact us by phone, online message, social media, or NZ Relay with any of your census queries.

Census support events and locations

Events and places in communities around Aotearoa New Zealand where you can get support to complete your census forms.

New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL)

Information about the 2023 Census in New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL).

Alternate formats

2023 Census information and census questions in alternate formats.

Promote the census in your community

Images, posters, flyers, social media assets, and copy to promote the census to your networks and communities, and in your workplaces.

Iwi map

This map can support you to answer the census question about your iwi affiliation.

2023 Census news

Read all the latest news about the delivery of the 2023 Census.

2023 Census fact sheets

Find out about key topics to do with the 2023 Census.

Information about census to share with your community

Images, posters, flyers, social media assets, and copy to promote the census to your networks and communities, and in your workplaces.

Tatau tātou – All of us count. All of us are part of the 2023 Census. And all of us can help share it with our networks, communities, colleagues, friends, and whānau.

This page holds material you can use to promote the 2023 Census. We encourage you to use this material for your websites, social media accounts, workplace channels, schools, meeting places – anywhere it might help people learn about the 2023 Census.

We will continue to add new material throughout the 2023 Census process. If you have any suggestions or requests for specific material, please email us. We will do our best to get you what you need.

Email: census.communications@stats.govt.nz

Thank you for your support of the 2023 Census.

Census photos for your channels

View the 2023 Census photo library

'All of us count - Why the census matters' booklet

A collection of stories from communities around Aotearoa New Zealand about the benefits of census data for them.

'All of us count - Why the census matters' booklet (PDF 1.2MB)

View these stories online individually

Posters and flyers

This section contains PDF files for simple printing. If you require files for professional print (with bleed and trim marks), please contact mel.branch@stats.govt.nz.

"There is still time to do the census" poster

Posters for use after census day (Tuesday 7 March 2023), with the message of "There is still time to do the census". These files can be printed at A1 size or smaller.

"There is still time to do the census" poster - variant A (PDF 2.8MB)

"There is still time to do the census" poster - variant B (PDF 1.6MB)

"There is still time to do the census" poster - variant C (PDF 4.7MB)

"There is still time to do the census" poster - variant D (PDF 3.6MB)