There's still time to take part.

Census forms are now overdue. If you need help, call 0800 236 787.

Why we do it

The census provides a wealth of information for the country to understand more about the people who live in New Zealand and to help make good decisions about where services are needed.

E whakarato ana te tatauranga i ngā pārongo rawa mō te whenua kia mārama ake i ngā tāngata e noho ana ki Aotearoa, ā, kia āwhina hoki i ngā whakataunga e pā ana ki ngā wāhi e hiahiatia ngā ratonga, kia pai ai.

Why you should take part

Information from the census helps determine how billions of dollars of government funding is spent across New Zealand. Because the information we collect is about everyone in New Zealand, it can be used to inform decisions and make plans about services and where they should be, such as hospitals, kōhanga reo, schools, roads, and public transport. Councils, iwi, and businesses use census information to help work out the core needs of their area or services. Community groups and organisations use the information to support funding applications and make the case for improvements within their communities.

People like you

Making sure we collect information that reflects changes in society is an important part of the census. You can find out more about how census information has been used in the case studies below. What would you like to see happen in your community? How many people like you are out there that might benefit from that change? Taking part in the census will help us find out.

View all case studies

Making the most of the numbers

Waimakariri Youth Council are using census data to identify issues affecting youth in their area. They are developing ways of using data to demonstrate what they need and what they want for their community.

Kei te whakamahi te Kaunihera Rangatahi o Waimakariri i ngā raraunga tatauranga kia whakamōhio ai ngā kaupapa e pāpāngia ana i ngā rangatahi o taua rohe. E whakawhanaketia ana e rātou ētahi huarahi whakamahi raraunga kia mohio ai he aha o rātou hiahia me o rātou hiahia mō te hapori.

Read the case study

Census data informs water network planning

Census data informs the cutting-edge water management models that enable the building of new houses in high-growth areas such as Tauranga and Auckland. Our country's population grew by 100,400 in the year ending June 2017 and 72,300 of that was as a result of net migration.

E whakamōhio ana ngā raraunga tatauranga i ngā tauira whakahaere ā-wai hōu e āhei te hanga o ngā whare hōu ki ngā wāhi tupu ike pērā i a Tauranga me Tāmaki Makaurau.