Brown Buttabean encourages Whanganui to get involved with 2023 Census

Brown Buttabean (New Zealand Local Hero of the Year Dave Letele) is asking Whanganui to get involved with the 2023 census. Photo/ Supplied

Brown Buttabean (New Zealand Local Hero of the Year Dave Letele) and PERSOLKELLY recruitment have put the call out for Whanganui to get involved with the 2023 census.

Doubling the boots on the ground from the 2018 census, PERSOLKELLY and Mana Recruitment seek to appoint about 3500 people nationwide to help with the collection effort.

When the time comes, from February 2023, census collectors will be working in communities to ensure whānau get counted in this nationwide survey that happens once every five years.

The roles are paid, short term and flexible so will suit students, retirees, parents at home or anyone with some time on their hands wanting to make some money and do their bit for their community.

The data collected in the census on March 7, 2023 helps community groups, iwi, businesses, and local and central government plan and fund services such as hospitals, kōhanga reo, schools, roads, and public transport.

As someone who sees the power of community in action daily at his BBM Motivation programme, Dave Letele was compelled to get involved, encouraging New Zealanders to do their bit and apply to be a census collector.

He hopes people across the country will jump on board to ensure that everybody in their local community is counted in this important snapshot of life in Aotearoa.

"If we want to change in our communities we first have to be seen and heard – and helping deliver the census is a great way to make sure your friends, whānau and neighbours are all counted," says Dave.

As well as a great way to do your bit for your community, Dave says it's also the perfect way to get fit, make money over the summer months, and be involved in your neighbourhood.

"Think of it as a five to 10-week challenge where you're getting paid to walk and meet new people, how awesome is that," says Dave.

PERSOLKELLY is seeking community-minded candidates all over New Zealand who know their local neighbourhood, have some free time on their hands and want to contribute to their community.

It's a project that the recruitment firm is proud to be a part of says Wendy Hewson, general manager of PERSOLKELLY New Zealand.

"It's special to be part of the 2023 census. The jobs we're filling provide an amazing opportunity for Kiwis to create a better understanding of their local community, the people in it and their needs. And at the end of the day, being counted in the census could be the difference between getting the resources you, your family, your friends, or your neighbours need – or not."

She says it's important to be involved in the census.

"Think about a 6-month-old baby, if that child isn't counted in the census it can't be factored into the planning of schools, healthcare, playgrounds and more in its community for the next five years – that's a long time not to be counted and represented in the data informing decisions about your community."

Applications to work as a census collector for the Stats NZ 2023 census are open now with work starting in late January 2023. For more information or to apply visit: www.persolkelly.co.nz/censusjobs/