2006 Census: date announced: July 2004

1 July 2004

2006 Census date announced

The next count of all New Zealanders and their households will be conducted on Tuesday, 7 March 2006, Statistics New Zealand announced today. Government Statistician Brian Pink stressed that planning was well underway. "This will be the first New Zealand census with an option for New Zealanders to fill in their census forms on the Internet. Preparation for the 2006 Census is well advanced, with a range of systems and procedures having been tested over the last 18 months. The 2006 Census questionnaires and systems will be finalised in 2005, following a large scale test in March 2005.

"I would like to thank the public for their support during the field tests. This gives me confidence that New Zealanders' traditional support for the census will continue in 2006.

"The five-yearly census is a critical part of the official statistics system. It provides the official snapshot of New Zealand and New Zealanders that guides critical government, community and business planning and decision making. Increased use of census statistics, aided by the wide range of information available on the Statistics New Zealand website, was a special feature of the 2001 Census.

"Nancy McBeth, Census General Manager, will have a team of around 250 central staff and 6,000 field staff leading up to March 2006 and in the weeks following census day," said Brian Pink. Brian Pink

ENDS

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