Next census announced

The next national census will be held on March 8 2011, Statistics New Zealand announced today.

The five-yearly official count of population and dwellings in New Zealand gives a "snapshot" of society at a point in time, acting Government statistician Cathryn Ashley-Jones said.

"The information collected in the census is used to make a wide range of important decisions such as where to fund and locate hospitals and schools, where electoral boundaries should fall, and how best to provide public transport systems."

Preparations for the event were already well under way, Ms Ashley-Jones said.

"One of our major focuses will be to encourage as many people as possible to fill in their census forms online.

"It's a quick and easy option and it means the census collectors won't need to go back to homes and pick up forms."

About 7 per cent of the population filled in their forms online at the last census in 2006 and Statistics hoped that would increase to at least 20 to 30 per cent.

"We are also working towards our major dress rehearsal early next year. This will be a comprehensive test of our systems and processes to ensure that the 2011 Census is a success.

"The dress rehearsal will run over four weeks in selected areas of New Zealand. It will involve approximately 8000 dwellings," Ms Ashley-Jones said.

During the actual census, Statistics would be recruiting one of the largest temporary workforces in New Zealand.

They would need about 7500 field staff to carry out the census, Ms Ashley-Jones said.

- NZPA