Tauranga Mayor Greg Brownless talking about how important completing the census is for Government and councils.
March 6 is 2018 Census day and Tauranga residents are urged to go online to complete the five-yearly survey used to help decide how billions of government funding should be spent.
Tauranga Mayor Greg Brownless, who completed his Census survey last week, said it was an "interesting" and important exercise that everyone was required to participate in.
"We're a rapidly growing community and the census is one of the way of measuring that," Brownless said.
"If we get valuable statistics from the Census data it helps us to represent our cause to the Government for anything from roading to assistant with housing.
"So [it is] also especially important to have this type of data so council can back up some of our claims when we need help so ratepayers alone don't have to fork out for these costs."
Brownless said the Census data also assisted the council with its long-term planning process so it could better cater for the needs of the city's rapidly growing population.
Every five years Statistics New Zealand takes a "snapshot" of the country to establish exactly how many people live in our villages, towns and cities.
There are 68 questions in this year's Census. Topics covered include health, work status, education, relationships, and transport and help add to the overall picture of the state of homes around the country.
According to Statistics NZ, more than half a million people had already filled in the census online before the official Census day of March 6.
The 2018 Census general manager Denise McGregor earlier said people of all ages were doing the Census online. Field teams were working directly with places such as hotels, hospitals, and camping grounds to help people in those places get and fill in the census," she said.
After March 6, reminder notices would be sent and field teams would follow up with households that had not responded.
Anyone who wanted to take part by paper would still be able to respond after Census day.
The data collected can be used to make plans about services, such as hospitals, kōhanga reo, schools, roads, and public transport, and where they should be.
Councils, iwiand businesses also use Census information to help work out the core needs of their area or services.
Community groups and organisations can also use the information to support funding applications and make the case for improvements within their communities.
Online access code letters have been mailed to all homes. Anyone who has not received their code is urged to call the 0800 Census line.
• For more information, go to www.census.govt.nz
Why is it important to complete the Census survey?
"It's very important to me. As a country we're growing and evolving, and it's important we map that growth so we have the right amount of resources and services in the future."
Rachel St Ives, 46 Papamoa
Alani Martin
"I've completed it because my parents told me to. But I would have anyway because it is important information the Government needs. It made me feel important and needed."
Alani Martin, 17 Waihi
Del Bray
"Yes, I intend to complete this survey as it helps the Government to decide how many resources should be allowed in the country for each particular area and region."
"I have already done so. Everyone is meant to complete the Census. I suffer from diabetes so it's particularly important that there is enough health services for everyone."
Kathleen Poole, 22 Brookfield
Ellen Stevens
"I haven't completed my census yet but I definitely intend to as soon as I get my access code. It's important for the country's decision makers to have this information.'"
