Dave Letele (aka the Brown Buttabean) will promote Cencus 2023. Photo / NZME
Dave Letele (aka the Brown Buttabean) will promote Cencus 2023. Photo / NZME
Community activist Dave Letele, also known as The Brown Buttabean, has signed on as an ambassador for Census 2023.
After a disastrous 2018 Census where it’s estimated more than 30 percent of Māori failed to take part, the government is investing heavily in getting a better result.
More than $110million is being spent by the government on next year’s census. This includes establishing community hubs and employing people like Letele.
“This is how central and local governments make decisions on health and roading and even things like playgrounds,” Letele says.
“The reason for me wanting to do it is to really encourage our people, Māori and Pasifika especially, to participate and actually complete the census.”
In 2018, the census was run online, and there was a major fall in the number of Māori who completed the survey.
The previous National-led government had decided to shift the census to a mostly online survey and, at the same time, directed Stats NZ to cut costs over two census cycles. That resulted in lower-than-usual coverage.
Tibble says Stats NZ has learned its lesson.
“We sat with iwi and listened and learned and we changed our approach.”
The campaign is to help sign up 3500 census collectors. Letele says Māori and Pasifika communities fare better when they are greeted face-to-face.
“For our people especially it’s good to have locals. So we are looking for local community people to get out there in your local community and talk to people.”
