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NZ takes stock in national census


The World Today - Tuesday, 7 March , 2006  12:50:00

Reporter: Peter Lewis

ELEANOR HALL: Across the Tasman today they're preparing for what's been described as the largest peacetime activity New Zealand carries out - the national census.

It's five years since the last statistical snap-shot of life in the land of the long white cloud and this time round the number crunchers are determined that no one will be missed.

New Zealand Correspondent Peter Lewis reports.

PETER LEWIS: The campaign slogan for census 2006 is that New Zealand is going to grow, so it needs to know!

BRIAN PINK: Well, for instance, we know that net migration over the last five years has been another hundred thousand-odd people - a little bit over, in fact.

PETER LEWIS: Government Statistician Brian Pink says the census provides the most complete picture of life in New Zealand cities, suburbs towns and rural areas so policymakers and planners can direct resources to where they'll be needed most.

By his reckoning an estimated 4.2 million people will sit down tonight and fill in the census form, either with a pen or for the first time, with the click of a computer key online.

Unlike voting in New Zealand, the census is compulsory, and backed up by the threat of a $500 fine - and that goes for visitors and visa overstayers as well.

MELE: I am just concerned that there's a lot of personal information getting into to the wrong hands.

PETER LEWIS: Mele is part of the hidden population of mainly Pacific Islanders who don't fill in census forms for fear of tipping off immigration authorities.

MELE: I am not here legally and my visa is expired and this information will link into the immigration department. Suspicion runs so deep that officials believe more Pacific Islanders than any other ethnic group refuse to take part.

PETER LEWIS: After the last census a Statistics New Zealand survey found one in 20 Pacific Islanders didn't fill in their forms, and the reason was mostly fear of being found out and deported.

But the Statistics Department's Ofa Ketu'u says they have got nothing to worry about.

OFA KETU'U: People fear that their information will be given to the police, the IRD (Inland Revenue Department), but you are guaranteed that your individual confidential information and your status in this country will not be revealed.

PETER LEWIS: Brian Pink says a special campaign has been launched to convince Pacific Islanders - overstayers or not - to fill in their forms.

BRIAN PINK: And we're very confident that we've been able to explain the value, we've been able to assure those communities of the confidentiality of the information that we provide that's it's not made available to anybody outside of Statistics New Zealand, and I think we've built that confidence and we'll see that in the level of response.

PETER LEWIS: And as for the estimated one million Kiwis living abroad, almost half of them in Australia, well, they haven't been totally forgotten.

A website has been set up by the expat association KEA. You can log on at www.everyonecounts.co.nz and make your mark... wherever you are.

This is Peter Lewis is Auckland.