Tai Rāwhiti and the Hawke's Bay have been given longer to complete the census because of extreme weather this year. Pictured are Ira Henare, Stacey Reeves and Selvi Joseph Mohan at a census event at Te Tini o Porou (an operations base for Te Runanganui o Ngāti Porou) last month. Photo: Liam Clayton / Gisborne Herald
People living in flood-affected parts of Tai Rāwhiti might receive a knock at the door in the coming weeks as a taskforce created to boost census uptake hits the ground.
While 7 March was Census Day for most of the country, Tai Rāwhiti and the Hawke's Bay were given an extension until 1 June because of Cyclones Hale and Gabrielle.
In response to the devastation of those weather events, Stats NZ set up Te Ahu Kauawhi - a locally led, nationally supported taskforce established to deliver the 2023 Census to badly hit communities.
Te Ahu Kauawhi lead Annette Papuni-McLellan said her group was taking the time to connect with local iwi, hapū and community organisations to create a plan for collecting data from communities.
She told Local Democracy Reporting the group was taking a "considered and mindful approach".
"We're locally driven, and we focus on the right time to speak to our communities and enter into the field to deliver the census," Papuni-McLellan said.
"When the cyclone hit, 90 percent (of the region's census collectors) were affected, so we said 'take some time, regroup, and focus on your whānau and your community first'."
With the rest of the country forging ahead with collecting data, the East Coast had been held back, but Papuni-McLellan said a slow approach was essential for a region still getting back up on its feet.
Her first lot of teams hit the field at the start of this month, and the taskforce will be in place until the 1 June cut-off.
The rollout in Tai Rāwhiti came on the heels of much consultation, including with iwi and community leaders.
"From 1 April, some of our teams entered the field across cyclone areas, but with a careful and considered approach.
"We didn't all rush out there and say here we are. We identified communities that felt they were ready."
Te Ahu Kauawhi lead Annette Papuni-McLellan says her group is taking a "considered and mindful approach" to getting communities involved in the census. Photo: Supplied
Nationwide, one in five people still hadn't completed the census, and about 40 percent of those were Māori or Pasifika, Papuni-McLellan said.
A key change in this year's census was that people could now affiliate to multiple iwi and hapu.
"We're really encouraging Māori and Pasifika whānau to complete the forms. We've got events, come along to events."
Deputy chief executive census and collection operations Simon Mason said completing the census was more important than ever on the back of recent extreme weather, because data would contribute to the long-term recovery of regions.
"At its heart, the census is about community and whānau. It is about people and what they need.
"The census gives the most complete picture of our communities and helps iwi, community groups, councils, government, and businesses make decisions about the funding and location of infrastructure, services, and support needed by communities."
Local Democracy Reporting is Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air.
