Statistics New Zealand has announced Tuesday, 8 March 2011 as the date for the next New Zealand census.
"The census is the official count of population and dwellings in New Zealand and gives a 'snapshot' of our society at a point in time. It is taken every five years and counts everyone in New Zealand on census night. The census provides key information about the people living in our cities, towns, suburbs, and rural communities," says Government Statistician and CEO Geoff Bascand.
"The information collected in the census is used to make a wide range of important decisions such as where to fund and locate hospitals and schools, where electoral boundaries should fall, and how best to provide public transport systems."
Geoff says preparations for the event are already well underway.
"One of our major focuses will be to encourage as many people as possible to fill in their census forms online," he said. "It's a quick and easy option and it means the census collectors won’t need to go back to homes and pick up forms. At the last census about 7 percent of people filled in their forms online – in 2011 we hope that at least 20–30 percent of people will do so.
"We are also working towards our major dress rehearsal early next year. This will be a comprehensive test of our systems and processes to ensure that the 2011 Census is a success. The dress rehearsal will run over four weeks in selected areas of New Zealand. It will involve approximately 8,000 dwellings.
"Closer to the time, we will remind everyone of the census date and let them know how to fill in the census forms. We will also be recruiting one of the largest temporary workforces in New Zealand. Statistics New Zealand will need approximately 7,500 field staff to carry out the census," Geoff said.