Northlanders worried about online Census can get help

Whangarei SeniorNet's chairwoman Barbara Budgen with, from left, Val Maxwell, Ray Cotterill and Frances Shaw, will help people aged 50-plus to fill out their census forms. Photo / John Stone

Northlanders having problems filling out their Census forms online can get help to do so with organisations in the region providing computer access and help until Census Day on Tuesday.

This year, for the first time, Census forms are to be filled in mainly online, although people can still request a paper form to fill in.

But the move to online has flummoxed many, with the Northern Advocate receiving calls from readers, particularly elderly folk, concerned that they do not have computers or access to one to fill the form out. Concerns also included that some had not used computers before and were worried they may miss the Census Day deadline as it may take too long to get a paper form sent to them and fill it out then return it to Census officials.

One reader also asked ''who the dingabat is' who thought up the idea of doing it mainly online.

''Are they aware that there are still people in NZ who are unable to receive adequate internet reception? What about the elderly, the homeless, the economically and financially disadvantaged? Do they not realise there are still people without computers or mobile phones?

''The Census is meant to collect valuable information about the lives and status of the NZ population. This one will not,'' Sherrill Dackers, said.

The 2018 census general manager Denise McGregor said leeway would be given to those unable to fill out the Census form by March 6 and it only fined or prosecuted people who refused to fill the form out after Census staff had carried out a number of tasks to get them to do so.

Ms McGregor said traditionally older people were exceptional at filling out the Census and she did not want them to be scared off doing it this time.

''And the data so far shows that the older generation is already filling it out in large numbers and early so that's great. But we do know there are some concerns and we have a range of measures to help.''

Census had partnered with SeniorNet and Northland District Health Board (NDHB) to provide access to computers across the region.

Census staff would then visit Northland households that had not completed the Census in the weeks after Census Day with paper copies and computer tablets to help those people fill it in.

''We don't want people worried. We want everybody to fill in the Census,'' Ms McGregor said.

About a third of people filled out the Census online in 2013 and if people wanted a paper copy to fill in they can get one by ringing 0800 CENSUS (0800 236787).

NDHB said it was crucial everybody in the region filled out the Census as it affected its funding for health services. Every year, thousands of people who live in Northland don't tell Statistics NZ that they call Northland home. This means the Ministry of Health's Population-Based Funding Formula doesn't provide the DHB with the funds to provide healthcare for thousands of people using its services.

The DHB is running a campaign to help people fill in the forms and has set up a website - www.northlanddhb.org.nz/home/census-2018 - that provides all the information of the help available.

NDHB has printed 13,000 postcards that have been distributed to GP practices, iwi organisations, marae and other organisations across the region. The DHB is also setting up Census booths in the region, which will contain computer tablets and officials from the DHB and Census, where people can go to fill in the Census.

The booths will be at Kawakawa, Moerewa and Kaikohe between 10am-3pm tomorrow; on Monday at Kaitaia East, Kaitaia West, Cable Bay and Coopers Beach between 10am-3pm and on Tuesday in Hikurangi, Otangarei, Whangarei CBD and Raumanga between 10am-3pm.

People will need to take their Census access code to compete the census at the booth.
Whangarei's SeniorNet will help those aged 50 and above fill out their forms at its base in Whangarei from today until Tuesday.

Whangarei SeniorNet's chair Barbara Budgen the group was conducting Census help across the country and there were many people who just did not have access to computers or did not know how to use one with confidence.

Ms Budgen said SeniorNet volunteers would be on hand to help those who needed help to fill out the Census at the SeniorNet office in the Learning Centre, in James St Arcade (2nd floor above Orrs Pharmacy) today from 10am to 2pm; tomorrow from 10am to 3pm; Saturday from 9am to 11.30am; Monday and Tuesday from 10am to 3pm.