Beyond 2013 Census

The Government has announced that the next New Zealand Census of Population and Dwellings will be held on Tuesday, 5 March 2013.

Statistics New Zealand is currently investigating options for the future of the census in New Zealand.

At the end of March 2012 Statistics NZ presented a paper to Cabinet that outlined a strategy and work programme for transforming the New Zealand Census of Population and Dwellings in the future. Cabinet approved the strategy, work programme, and proposed reporting timeline.

The Transforming Census Strategy supports Statistics NZ’s aim to make the census more efficient, less costly, and easier for people to take part. The strategy focuses on modernising the current census model in the short term, and investigating the feasibility of producing census information from alternative models in the longer term.

Transforming the New Zealand Census of Population and Dwellings: issues, options, and strategy (the issues paper that informed the cabinet paper) is now available on the Statistics New Zealand website.