2023 Census: Tatau tātou – All of us count

Supporting better outcomes for iwi and Māori through seven key kaupapa.

1. Stronger voice for Māori in the 2023 Census

  • The Data Iwi Leaders Group, a subgroup of the Iwi Chairs Forum, is part of the 2023 Census governance board and is supporting the design, for example, of census products and services for Māori.
  • Te Taumata Whakaritenga Māori rōpū provides feedback and input to meaningfully influence the 2023 Census.
  • We have a Te Ao Māori team in census for the first time, helping guide census decision-making.

2. Better partnerships and engagement

  • We are working in communities to build relationships that last – with some permanent regionally-based staff now in place.
  • We have twice as many engagement staff as 2018, with more than half Māori.
  • We have been activating partnerships across the motu to support a higher response rate from Māori in the 2023 Census.

3. Better marketing and communications

  • Our communications channels and marketing content will be more relevant to Māori, with specific Māori targeted marketing and kaupapa Māori social media influencers and messaging. There will be specific and targeted communications, including information directly to iwi and Māori organisations, and use of Māori media.
  • We have appointed a creative agency with demonstrated expertise reaching Māori.
  • A Māori-first design approach for the marketing campaign is being taken. One of the main design elements of the 2023 Census campaign is an example of this. To weave the value of inclusion throughout the 2023 Census campaign (see https://youtu.be/Z2Cz7aNoqVs)

4. Better events

  • The 2023 Census is a major sponsor of Te Matatini – supporting events in rohe and the national competition
  • When the time comes, there will be local events to support whānau to complete their census forms. 

5. Making it easier to take part

  • It will be easier to enter iwi affiliation information. People will be able to enter up to 16 iwi online, and we will have a new iwi map to better enable answers to Iwi affiliation.
  • We will have more census collectors in communities, from those communities to help people take part in the census.
    • they are receiving training in te ao Māori and tikanga.
    • they will be delivering more paper forms and offering support to do the census.
  • We are holding events in communities to support people to do the census.

6. Better supporting data capability build

  • We have delivered a pre-census campaign in selected locations focused on the value of data to communities. You can view the on our website: www.census.govt.nz/all-of-us-count
  • Our engagement teams work with iwi, hapū, and Māori communities to help build data capability and increase awareness of and participation in census.
  • Led by the Data Iwi Leaders Group, we are supporting an iwi-led data analytics and collections pilot. As part of this, data collection for the 2023 Census will be led by Ohua in Te Tai Tokerau, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, and Toitū Tairāwhiti.  

7. A commitment to te reo Māori

  • The census website and online census form is available in te reo Māori www.census.govt.nz
  • Bilingual English/te reo Māori paper forms are available for everyone.
  • Telephone support will be available in te reo Māori from 7 February 2023.

Key messages for whānau

  • The next census is coming. Census Day is Tuesday 7 March 2023. We all need to take part to ensure the data fairly represents everyone in Aotearoa.
  • Census collects important information including Māori descent, iwi affiliation, and the number of te reo Māori speakers. This means iwi can access the type of information they need to help their members and their tribe in key areas from education to health and housing. This supports both mana motuhake, and access to kāwanatanga services!
  • It’s about mokopuna-centred development and decision making. When we count our mokos and tamariki, we ensure government has the information needed to improve educational opportunities, health, housing, and employment for the next generation. 
  • It’s about making sure we do our bit as Tane Māori! When we fill in the census, we do our bit for our whānau! We need to ensure the government has the info needed to provide our brothers and sons with the opportunities they need: skills, employment, housing, and health services. We also need to ensure we are helping.