Close to 4.5 million people have participated in the 2023 Census to date, and there are a few weeks only until it closes on 30 June 2023.

Everyone who stayed in New Zealand overnight on Census Day, 7 March 2023, is required by law to complete a census form. That includes people staying in New Zealand on a temporary basis, and children and babies.

As you will be aware, census data is used by government, councils, community organisations, iwi, and businesses to make important decisions that affect us all. Census data informs the funding and location of services like schools, hospitals, and public transport, and infrastructure like roads. Any community that doesn’t count all its people will always be disadvantaged in population-based decisions.

Thank you in advance for your support to ensure we make the 2023 Census a success for the benefit of the whole country for years to come.