Statistics New Zealand has a planning assumption that the date of the next census (after 2013) will be in 2018. A business case for a proposed 2018 census, along with an update on the census transformation work programme, will be presented to Cabinet in November 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, including a 10-yearly census.
Transforming the New Zealand Census of Population and Dwellings: issues, options, and strategy (published 2012)
This issues paper informed the Cabinet paper on transforming the census.