2023 Census information for communities impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle
You have more time and support to do the census. But you do not need to wait for us. You can complete the census online now.
You have more time and support to do the census
Most of the country was asked to complete the census on or before Tuesday 7 March 2023.
But everyone in the areas most impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle will have more time and more support if they need it.
- You can fill out your census forms later than Tuesday 7 March 2023.
- Local census collectors will check in with you and provide information and support.
- Census collectors will be available to help until 1 June 2023 where needed.
Completing the census is an opportunity for you to help shape the future of your region. Census gives a picture of our communities and helps councils, iwi, and community organisations understand the infrastructure, services and support people need.
You do not need to wait for us to come to you. You can complete the census online now if you want to.
You can get an access code to fill out census forms online.
Get an access code delivered to your phone by SMS text message now
Advice for helping you complete your census forms
Advice to help you complete your census forms
Some census questions might not be as easy to answer as they would have been before Cyclone Gabrielle. The information below aims to help you with some of these.
We are here to help if you have any other questions.
Freephone: 0800 CENSUS (0800 236 787)
General advice
Please respond as you would have on Tuesday, 7 March. If you were staying at a different address give us the address where you were on Census Night, Tuesday 7 March.
Thank you for completing your census forms already. You do not need to fill them in again. If there are any people in your household who have not yet completed census forms, then please ask them to use these materials to complete the census.
Yes. A census form needs to be completed for every person in New Zealand, including anyone visiting New Zealand.
For general information about answering the census question, see the guide notes inside your pack.
If your question isn’t answered in the guide notes or on this page, or you need more help, please contact us.
Freephone: 0800 CENSUS (0800 236 787)
DF Title
Dwelling Form advice
- please answer this question for the dwelling address you gave at question 1.
- please answer this question for the address shown at the top of the page.
- you/your household own the moveable dwelling you are currently living in, even if you bought it under hire purchase or some other financial loan agreement.
- you/your household do not own it, for example if it is borrowed from family or friends, rented, or if it is provided as emergency accommodation.
We have/had people staying with us who were displaced due to Cyclone Gabrielle. Do we include them in the count of people staying here on census night?
If they are (or were) sharing facilities with you, such as kitchen and bathroom, please include all people staying or living at your dwelling on the night of the census, 7 March 2023.
If they are (or were) living in accommodation that is completely self-contained, they should complete their own, separate dwelling form.
What if I own a dwelling that I am not currently living in due to the cyclone?
If you are completing the census on a paper form:
If you are completing the census on the online form:
I am/my household is currently living in a moveable dwelling such as a caravan, boat, tent or motorhome – how should I answer this question?
Select ‘own’ if:
Select ‘neither of these, eg renting’ if:
How should I answer if my rent is being paid by my insurance company?
The household does not pay rent if it is paid by your insurance company. Select or mark ‘no’ for this question.
Should I count rooms that are unusable because of damage?
If the unusable rooms will be repaired, count them. If the unusable rooms will not be repaired, or you don’t know whether they will be repaired, do not count them.
My heat pump, heater, wood burner (or other heating appliance) is unusable because of cyclone damage. Should I include it?
If it will be repaired or replaced, include it. If it will not be repaired or replaced, or you don’t know whether it will be repaired or replaced, do not include it.
I do not currently have access to a cellphone/telephone/the internet because of the cyclone. How should I answer?
If it will be available again soon, include it in your answer. If it is likely to remain unavailable for several weeks or more, do not include it in your answer.
My car has been damaged/destroyed by the cyclone. How should I answer?
If it will be fixed or replaced soon, include it in your answer. If it is likely to remain unfixed or unreplaced for several weeks or more, do not include it in your answer.
My home was flooded and is now damp. How should I answer?
Select either ‘sometimes damp’ (if you think it will only be damp for a short time) or ‘always damp’ if you are not sure when it can be dried out and it is likely to remain damp for several weeks or more.
My home was flooded and is now mouldy. How should I answer?
If the total amount of mould is larger than an A4 sheet of paper, select one of the ‘yes’ options. Select ‘sometimes’ if you think it will only be mouldy for a short time or ‘always’ if you are not sure how long mould will remain and it is likely to remain mouldy for several weeks or more. Select or mark ‘no’ if the total amount of mould is smaller than an A4 sheet of paper.
I do not have electricity/tap water/cannot use my cooking facilities (or other basic amenities) because of the cyclone. How should I answer?
If it will be available again soon, include it in your answer. If it is likely to remain unavailable for several weeks or more, do not include it in your answer.
IF Title
Individual Form advice
How should I answer if my address has been affected by the cyclone?
If you think you will be moving back to your cyclone affected address, then give that address. If you are unsure if you will be moving back to your cyclone affected address, or are unable to, use the address you are currently living at.
How should I answer if I am completing my census forms after Census Night, 7 March 2023?
Please give us the address where you were on Census Night, Tuesday, 7 March 2023.
How should I answer if I am not at my usual residence?
Please only include people you live with; at the address you gave earlier as your usual address (question 5).
The way I normally travel to my place of education has been impacted by the cyclone – how should I answer?
Please tell us your usual means of travel to education.
My place of education is currently closed because of the cyclone. How should I answer?
Please provide the current address of the pre-school, school or other place of education you are currently enrolled at. If you will be returning to your place of education soon, please put that address.
Should I include financial assistance given because of the cyclone?
Do not count one-off financial payments received as a result of the recent cyclone. But do include any regular income protection insurance payments under ‘other sources of income’.
What if I own a dwelling that I am not currently living in due to the cyclone?
Please answer this question for the dwelling at the address you gave as your usual address, even if you own another dwelling that you are not currently living in.
I am currently living in a moveable dwelling such as a caravan, boat, tent or motorhome – how should I answer this question?
Select ‘own’ if: you own the moveable dwelling you are currently living in, even if you bought it under hire purchase or some other financial loan agreement. Select ‘neither of these, eg renting’ if: you do not own it, for example if it is borrowed from family or friends, rented, or provided as emergency accommodation.
How do I respond if I have been unable to attend work due to the impact of the cyclone?
If you were unable to work in your usual job, business or farm in the 7 days that ended on 5 March 2023 due to the impact of the cyclone events, tick ‘I work in a job, business or farm, but I was not working last week for some reason’.
How do I respond if I have been unable to attend work due to the impact of the cyclone?
Please tell us what your usual hours worked are.
How should I answer if my usual workplace address has been affected by the cyclone?
If you expect to return to your usual workplace address prior to the cyclone then tell us your usual workplace address.
If you are unsure or do not know whether you will be returning to your usual workplace, then give the address of the place you mostly worked at during the seven days that ended on 5 March 2023.
If your workplace address has changed give the address of the place you mostly worked at during the seven days that ended on 5 March 2023.
The way I normally travel has been impacted by the floods – how should I answer?
Please tell us your usual means of travel to work.