Five-yearly census to be scrapped
New Zealand will scrap the traditional nationwide five-yearly census from 2030 in lieu of a system that uses existing government data, smaller annual surveys, and targeted data collection.
Monthly inflation reporting would also begin from 2027 to provide more frequent and up-to-date economic data, Statistics Minister Shane Reti announced today.
He said the new approach will harness administrative data already collected by government agencies as the primary source of population statistics.
This data – including tax records, education enrolments, or health data – is already used regularly to produce some statistics.
A smaller annual survey and targeted data collection will verify the data quality and fill gaps, with Stats NZ to work closely with communities to ensure accurate representation of minorities.
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Reti said the approach will save time and money while delivering more timely insights into New Zealand's population, adding that relying on a nationwide census day was "no longer financially viable".
The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, including Auckland's supermarket fire, Trump's threat to Iran, and how a smart watch could make you fitter. (Source: 1News)
In 2013, the census cost $104 million. A decade later, costs had risen to $325 million, with the next census projected to cost $400 million.
"Despite the unsustainable and escalating costs, successive censuses have been beset with issues or failed to meet expectations," Reti said.
"By leveraging data already collected by government agencies, we can produce key census statistics every year, better informing decisions that affect people's lives."
Statistics Minister Shane Reti. (Source: Getty)
Reti also said the Government will also spend $16.5 million to introduce a monthly Consumer Price Index (CPI) from 2027, which will measure inflation for New Zealand households by recording changes in the price of goods and service.
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The CPI will provide more timely inflation data to help the Government and Reserve Bank respond quickly to cost-of-living pressures and bring the country in line with other advanced economies, he said.
"Inflation affects interest rates, benefit adjustments, and household budgets. Timely data helps ensure Kiwis are better supported in a fast-changing environment."
Stats NZ will also be allocated funding to align its reporting with updated international macroeconomic standards.
"Modern, internationally aligned statistics will support trade and investment, helping drive economic growth and job creation," Reti said, adding that the changes represented a "broader reset" for Stats NZ.
"Some outputs have not met the standard expected of a world-class statistics agency. We're getting back to basics – measuring what matters. Our goal is a modern, efficient, and reliable data system that delivers the insights New Zealand needs now and into the future."
Meanwhile, the Guardian has reported that plans to scrap the 2031 census in England and Wales have been overturned amid a backlash from statisticians over plans to replace it with alternative sources of data.
They were concerned about the feasibility and cost of bringing together different datasets that may have been collected in different ways.
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