2023 New Zealand Census

The 2023 New Zealand census, which took place on 7 March 2023, was the thirty-fifth national census in New Zealand. It implemented measures that aimed to increase the Census' effectiveness in response to the issues faced with the 2018 census, including supporting Māori to complete the census. It also included new questions on topics such as gender, sexual identity, and disabilities/health conditions. The first Census data was published on 29 May 2024, in a range of data products and services.

Conducting the census

The 2023 census can be completed online or on paper forms. Forms with an access code were mailed out to householders from 20 February, but paper forms could be requested online or by telephone. The telephone number had operators speaking English, te reo Māori, Samoan, Tongan, Korean, Mandarin, Cantonese, Hindi, and Punjabi. New Zealand Sign Language was available through NZ Relay. One dwelling form was required for each household, and one individual form was required for each person present in the dwelling on Tuesday 7 March 2023. The census closed on 30 June 2023.

History

Background

The date for the 2023 New Zealand census was announced by Stats NZ on 28 September 2022.

Issues

Cyclone Gabrielle

In February 2023, Cyclone Gabrielle had devastated parts of the North Island, prompting the Government to declare a national state of emergency in six regions. To address the disruption caused by Cyclone Gabrielle, the Government had agreed to an eight-week extension of the census for the worst affected areas. People living in cyclone-affected areas including the Far North District, Gisborne District, and Hawkes Bay had until 1 June to complete their Census.

In addition, Statistics New Zealand asked the Government for an extra NZ$37 million to cover extra costs. Face-to-face visits were also delayed in some affected areas. Field operations in Gisborne and Hawkes Bay commenced on 3 April.

Participation rates

On 6 March 2023, Radio New Zealand reported that just one million New Zealanders had filled out their census forms. Statistics New Zealand's deputy chief executive census and collections operation, Simon Mason, described the response as underwhelming and attributed the lower response rate to the disruption caused by Cyclone Gabrielle and opposition by some on social media to participating in the census. In response to criticism of the 2018 New Zealand census, Mason confirmed that Statistics NZ had sent two forms in the post to bolster public engagement.

By 31 March, Statistics NZ had confirmed that four million people had returned their census forms; beating the 30 April milestone for the 2018 census. On 5 April, ''Newsroom'' reported that one in five people had not returned their census forms, with the figure rising to two in five people within the Māori and Pacific communities. ''Newsroom'' also reported low rates of participation in Gisborne and Hawkes Bay; with 26,200 out of Gisborne's estimated total population of 52,100 and 89,300 out of Hawkes Bay's population of 182,700 returning their survey forms.

According to ''Newsroom'', Statistics NZ had fallen behind its target of visiting all non-responding and partially responding households by nine days after 7 March. By 31 March, 29,000 dwellings outside Te Mana Whakatipu, Gisborne, and Hawkes Bay had not received their first visit. Mason also confirmed that census workers had made 1.3 million non-response follow-up visits to 790,000 dwellings by 31 March. In an effort to boost participation, Statistics NZ deployed over 3,000 census collectors in the community until 3 May and until 1 June in Hawkes Bay and Gisborne. Mason also confirmed that Statistics NZ would focus on supporting under-represented groups including Māori.

By 20 April, Statistics NZ confirmed that 4.3 million people had returned their census forms while one in five respondents had not returned their forms. The '' Bay of Plenty Times'' reported that 274,300 had returned their forms by 19 April. However, 73,400 forms had not been returned; with 37,300 of these non-respondents being Māori and 17,700 being youths. Non-respondents face a NZ$2,000 fine under the Data and Statistics Act 2022.

By 1 May, Statistics NZ confirmed that 4,408,894 people out of an estimated population of 5.15 million had returned their census forms. Statistics NZ spokesperson Tracy Dillimore confirmed that the national Census response rate was 86%. Deputy government statistician Simon Mason warned that people who had not completed their census forms would receive a final notice from 9 May.

National Party statistics spokesperson Simon Watts described the 2023 Census as a failure and doubted that Statistics NZ would reach its 90% target. Watts also disputed Statistic NZ's position that Cyclone Gabrielle had disrupted the census collection process, pointing out that most of the uncompleted forms were from major cities with lower completion rates among Māori and Pasifika. Watts estimated that the 2023 Census would cost NZ$337 million, including the extra NZ$37 million requested by Statistics NZ. By contrast, the Minister of Statistics Deborah Russell claimed that the 2023 Census was an improvement over the 2018 Census, citing the former's 86% response rate in comparison with the latter's overall response rate of 81.6%.

By 20 May, 4.5 million census forms (covering 88% of the population) had been returned. According to Deputy Government Statistician Simon Mason, 55,000 final notice packs had been sent to non-responding households. At the time, 25% of Māori and Pasifika had not returned their census forms. During the 2023 census, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui trialled a "by Māori, for Māori" census collection drive in East Cape, Gisborne District and parts of the Northland Region. Data Iwi Leaders Forum spokesperson Rahui Papa credited the "by Māori, for Māori" drive with ensuring a 90% Māori uptake in the East Cape.

Misuse of census data allegations

On 2 June 2024, the '' Sunday Star Times'' reported that Statistics New Zealand was investigating allegations by former staff at Manurewa Marae
that Te Pāti Māori (Māori Party) had illegally used 2023 census data to target Māori electorate voters in the Tāmaki Makaurau electorate during the 2023 New Zealand general election, and that participants were given supermarket vouchers, wellness packs and food parcels to encourage them to fill out census forms and switch to the Māori electoral roll. The party's candidate Takutai Moana Kemp had won the Tāmakai Makaurau seat during the 2023 election. A whistleblower from the Ministry of Social Development had alerted Statistics NZ and the Police, which had delayed investigating the matter. In response, Te Pāti Māori leader John Tamihere denied the allegations and claimed they were made by disgruntled former staff. Tamihere said that the marae had been working with the Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency to promote Māori participation in the 2023 census. Tamihere also acknowledged that marae workers had given gifts to encourage people to participate in the 2023 Census and switch to the Māori roll.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the allegations are "pretty serious" and they need to be investigated promptly but were an issue for the party and the authorities. David Seymour said a ministerial inquiry could be warranted and Leader of the Opposition Chris Hipkins said the allegations were "very serious" and warranted a "rigorous and very credible" review. Doug Craig was appointed to investigate the census data misuse allegations. The findings will be shared with the New Zealand Police who are also investigating.

On 27 August 2024, former academic Rawiri Taonui claimed that the whistleblowers connected to Destiny Church had instigated the allegations against Manurewa Marae and Te Pāti Māori following a failed attempt by the church to take over the marae. On 22 January 2025, Statistics New Zealand's investigation cleared the Whanau Ora Commissioning Agency of data breaches during the 2023 Census, finding that the agency increased Māori participation. The report made nine recommendations to improve Statistics NZ's procedures and referred allegations against Manurewa Marae to the Privacy Commissioner. The report also found no evidence that one of the alleged whistleblowers had attempted to contact Statistics NZ regarding allegations against the marae.

On 11 February 2025, ''The New Zealand Herald'' reported that Detective Superintendent Ross McKay was leading an investigation into allegations regarding Te Pāti Māori's misuse of census data and Covid-19 vaccination information at Manurewa Marae during the 2023 general election.

Results

The first results from the census were released on 29 May 2024.

Population counts

Population counts by territorial authority and Auckland local board areas

Ethnic group

Age

The median age was 38.1 years, up from 37.4 years at the 2018 census.

Māori descent

Dwelling counts

Summary by region

Gender and Sexual Identity

New census questions allowed data to be gathered for the first time on, among others, the LGBTIQ+ population. Data found that 1 in 20 adults identified as LGBTIQ+.

References

Works cited

* {{cite book , title=Electoral Atlas of New Zealand , last=McRobie , first=Alan , year=1989 , publisher=GP Books , location=Wellington , isbn=0-477-01384-8

Censuses in New Zealand
March 2023 in New Zealand
2023 censuses