Did someone say ‘census’?

No one should be too surprised if the Far North’s population is found to have shrunk since 2013 when this year’s census data are released.

It took no time at all yesterday to find people in Kaitaia who had not received the forms they needed to comply, or who had no intention of complying even if they had received it, which most had not. A few weren’t sure what a census was.

As late as yesterday morning, almost 12 hours after the official deadline, Statistics was still advertising on radio, stating that anyone who had not yet received the form need not worry — it would be in their mail box very soon.

Fern Morrell (Ohaeawai) has made sure she was counted in the past but hadn’t received the form this time. In any event she did not have internet access.

Gloria Martin (Kaitaia) phoned the 0800 number last week for the paper forms, and was still waiting yesterday.

Sid Nathan (Kaitaia) didn’t receive the form but that could be because he was between addresses.

Letisha Tatana (Kaitaia) hadn’t received the form, and wasn’t sure what the census was.