Statistics New Zealand: Census redesign aimed at boosting Māori participation rates

Stats NZ will be sending out more paper forms than it did in 2018. Photo / John Stone

By RNZ

Organisers are hoping a redesign will boost Māori participation rates in this year’s Census, which takes place on March 7.

The Māori response rate in the 2018 Census was about 68 per cent, which Statistics New Zealand has said was unacceptably low.

Deputy Government Statistician Simon Mason said in 2018, there was a failure to consult and explain how data was collected and used, as well as ensuring Māori were properly supported to take part.

This census had seen extensive consultation, and initiatives to boost participation, he said.

There were double the number of census staff, half of whom were Māori, who would work directly with communities to promote awareness, and help whānau to fill in the forms, he said.

2018 Census was about 68 percent, which Statistics New Zealand has said was unacceptably low. Photo / NZME

“We’ll have increased assistance to complete the census including help at your door step should people want that, and the ability to cross into people’s homes should they want that to help people complete their census forms.”

More paper forms would also be sent out, Mason said.

This year, organisers had worked closely with specialist Māori census groups, while iwi-led census collections would be trialled this year in three regions, he said.