Census figures roll in as 2 million people take part but rates for over 80s low

Whangarei SeniorNet's chairwoman Barbara Budgen, front with, at rear from left, Val Maxwell, Ray Cotterill and Frances Shaw, will help people over 50 to fill out their Census forms. Photo / John Stone

Two million people have completed their Census forms, helping statisticians get a snapshot of New Zealand's population and general needs.

Stats NZ is pleased with response rates but numbers for those in their 80s and above had dropped off.

The amount of people who had already completed their Census was a "great result" and the number was likely to continue to climb on Tuesday, Census Day, evening, 2018 Census general manager Denise McGregor said.

People aged 45 to 69 had the highest response rates online and the response was good for those in their seventies as well, however it did drop off for people in their eighties and beyond.

SeniorNet and Statistics NZ have teamed up to provide places where people over 50 could get help to fill out their forms online.

Until Friday, March 9, volunteers will be at SeniorNet learning centres around the country to help people aged over 50 fill out the 2018 Census online.

SeniorNet national spokesman Grant Sidaway said they were running more than 200 workshops nationally to help seniors complete the census.

In Whangarei by 2pm yesterday 40 people had been helped at Whangarei SeniorNet.

Volunteer Jean Hansen said they had also had plenty of inquiries from others finding it hard to fill the forms out online.

We’ll automatically send a letter with an access code to any households that haven't completed census forms by midnight tonight. Look out for this in your letterbox. Thanks. @vbstudio_nz

— Stats NZ (@Stats_NZ) March 6, 2018

"Also a lot of people haven't got their forms with their Census access code yet to fill it out online. Many assume that we have the paper forms for them to fill out but we don't," she said.

From Wednesday reminders would be sent and field teams will start following up with households to support them to complete.

In the Far North, Great Barrier Island, the Ureweras and Whanganui, field teams had already begun visiting and delivering access codes and paper forms, to make sure people in remote parts of New Zealand have everything they need to complete the census over the next few days.

Stats NZ's online system will remain open, and teams will be heading out to visit households who haven't taken part from later next week. It is expected to be following up for several weeks, which is usual for a census.