Snails in my mailbox chomped their way through the thank-you note from my nephew about attending his wedding and don’t even get me started on the one trillion false starts I’ve had on getting fit. That’s another story.
But I digress. My latest inaction, I am ashamed to admit, is completing the Census form and I am not alone.
More than 70,000 people in the Bay of Plenty are risking a $2000 fine by not yet returning their 2023 Census forms, according to Stats NZ.
To date, 4.3 million people across the country have returned their Census forms. But about one in 5 people still need to do so, Stats NZ said in a statement.
In the Bay of Plenty, an estimated 274,300 people had returned their forms as of Wednesday. But an estimated 73,400 forms were still yet to be submitted.
The estimates were based on the June 30, 2022 population estimate for our region.
The Census is a five-yearly data collection event that provides a snapshot of our nation at a point in time, including providing detailed information about New Zealand’s small communities.
It helps the Government know who you are, where you are, and what resources your community needs. Census data is used to plan infrastructure like water and roads, and services like schools and hospitals.
From May 5, households that have not completed the Census will receive a final notice. I am encouraging everyone, including myself, to get it done. We owe it to our community and the future of our nation.