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Message from
the Chief Executive
Kia ora koutou
I hope you and your loved ones are well and safe.
The past month has been challenging for our whole country. The severe weather events started with the Auckland floods, then Cyclone Gabrielle, and now heavy rain across the motu has affected most New Zealanders in some way. The efforts for recovery and support, especially in the regions most affected will continue for some time.
I would like to remind our communities that Census Day is next Tuesday, 7 March. Hopefully you have heard or read about it – it’s been advertised in the media, schools, community centres, bus stops, and via our engagement advisors who have been communicating it directly with their stakeholders.
This newsletter is to share with you the significance of census for our ethnic communities.
To date, we’ve relied on data and information from the 2018 Census, which is now 5-year-old data – a lot has changed since then! Our ethnic communities are very dynamic and continuously growing. The 2018 data has not been informative enough for the government to make decisions and shape policies that affect our ethnic communities and to effectively consider their needs.
It is not only about the data. It’s more about the “value of data”, i.e. how we can make use of data for a better now and tomorrow. We at the Ministry for Ethnic Communities need data and lived experiences to provide evidence-based sound advice and influence government decisions to support our ethnic communities further.
In addition, census data helps communities in all kinds of ways. Knowing more about you and your community means your needs can be better addressed. No one can support and fund people unless we know what and where support is needed. So, taking part in the census helps make a difference for your family and community. It will also assist with us informing where policy needs to improve or change to make things better for our communities.
Now, especially in light of the recent severe weather events, our ethnic communities will continue to seek support for the post-crisis recovery phase. Therefore, census becomes even more important to know where to focus the relief efforts and what ethnic-specific needs to consider, especially in times of crises.
You can do it now! Whether on paper, online, or through census collectors. In most parts of the country, census packs are starting to arrive in the post, and census collectors will continue visiting households. Please note, census has been extended for eight weeks in the flood/cyclone impacted areas: 2023 Census period extended in cyclone affected regions | Beehive.govt.nz
Let us know if you need to organise an awareness event for your community, and we can help put you in contact with the relevant team at census, who are happy to support you.
In the following section, there is more information and some links that I hope will be useful and tell you more about census, information security, how to complete it and the languages available.
We will continue to provide updates through our social media channels; Facebook and LinkedIn, as more information will be released in the coming days.
Ki te Kotahi te kākaho, ka whati; ki te kāpuia, e kore e whati - Alone we can be broken; standing together, we’re invincible.
Mervin
Increased language support for the 2023 Census
To make it the most inclusive census yet, the 2023 Census provides support in many languages.
In addition to English and te reo Māori, census instructions and information will be available on this website:
- 27 different languages
- Alternate formats, including:
- New Zealand Sign Language videos with closed captioning
- Audio
- Large Print
- Easy Read
- Braille-ready files.
Why it’s important that everyone completes the census?
- Census is all about having a complete picture of life in Aotearoa New Zealand. Our ethnic communities are an integral, essential part of this picture.
- The data gathered about communities, iwi, local councils, businesses and government are used to decide where to fund and locate services that affect us all. For example, schools, hospitals, roads, public transport, parks and recreation facilities.
- Under the Data and Statistics Act 2022, everyone living or staying in Aotearoa
New Zealand on the night of the census, Tuesday 7 March 2023, is required to complete a census form.
The information you provide in the 2023 Census will help to make change where it is needed the most.
Here’s more information on why the census matters: See how data helps our communities | 2023 Census | Aotearoa New Zealand
Security of information gathered is a high priority
- There are many measures to ensure the information provided during the census is kept safe and secure. There are laws (the Privacy Act 2020 and the Data and Statistics Act 2022) to protect it.
- Information collected from everyone who completes the census is stored on a secure data storage server certified by the New Zealand Government.
- Published census data is always about groups and communities, never individuals. All identifying information, like names and addresses, is removed before the data can be used.
Find out how Stats NZ keeps your information safe at Your information.
Contact Us
Our regional teams are here to help facilitate and encourage inclusiveness and diversity in Aotearoa and to offer support and advice to all of our ethnic communities.
You can reach out to us by email at info@ethniccommunities.govt.nz.
Take care of yourselves, your families, loved ones and wider communities.
Ngā mihi nui
Mervin Singham
Chief Executive
Ministry for Ethnic Communities
