This omnibus bill amends the Data and Statistics Act 2022 so that, from 2030, census data and statistics are published every year rather than every five years. It moves the next census from 2028 to 2030, and clarifies the Government Statistician's census and consultation obligations under an "administrative-data-first" approach, in which future censuses are taken using data government already holds, supported by a new annual sample survey of a proportion of the population and tailored approaches for Māori and other harder-to-measure communities. The policy statement gives the reasons as declining affordability, efficiency, data quality and timeliness under full field enumeration, growing resistance to completing census forms, and 2023 target response rates not being met for some populations despite increased investment. The bill is currently before Parliament.
This omnibus bill amends the Data and Statistics Act 2022 to move, from 2030, to an annual census built primarily from administrative data supported by survey data, rather than a five-yearly full count. It would require yearly publication of census data and statistics, move the next census from 2028 to 2030, and update the Government Statistician's consultation and review obligations to fit the new administrative-data-first approach.
Supporters argue that an annual, administrative-data-based census can be more timely, less costly, and less burdensome than the traditional five-yearly count, giving more current population information for planning and funding. Others raise questions about data quality, privacy, and coverage of groups that administrative data captures poorly, and will scrutinise the safeguards and survey support needed to keep the statistics accurate and trusted.
See the Parliament.nz ↗ site for the full bill.