Q&A

What was the background?

In 2014, the previous Government approved a plan to “modernise” the Census process. Stats NZ laid out a plan in 2016 and the Census was done in March 2018. The main change was moving most data collection to online.

So it went badly?

The response rate from the public was the worst rate of reply in about five Censuses, with Stats NZ calling it “unacceptably low”. The overall response rate was 83.3 per cent, compared with a return of 92.2 per cent in 2013.

What happened then?

Stats NZ scrambled to fix the gaps, using much more “administrative data” than planned. That means the data can broadly serve its function of telling authorities who is living where for some resources and for electorates to be set.

So what’s the problem?

Administrative data — stuff Stats NZ can get from elsewhere such as drivers’ licences or tax records — is good for some information, like where people live or how old they are. But it’s not very useful for more personal, detailed facts. For instance, we won’t have official data on how big iwi are. The Ma¯ ori response rate was 68.2 per cent (down from 88.5).

What did the review find?

An independent inquiry found too much focus had shifted online. Staff numbers on the ground were “inadequate” — only about 40 per cent of those in 2013. Some areas and population sectors, including Ma¯ ori, were ill-equipped to take part. The almost $120 million budget fell short and too many changes were made at once.

What happens next?

Stats NZ will begin releasing its data from next month, with an aim of having it all out by the first quarter of next year.