Statistics are used to shape many of the decisions that affect your life. The census is especially useful for this because everyone has to take part – it provides the most complete picture of life in our cities, towns, suburbs and rural areas.
The statistics that come out of the census are used to help develop policies and to make a wide range of important decisions, such as funding for schools, hospitals, social services and police.
Your local council uses census information to decide when to build new roads, how best to provide public transport systems, where to place recreational facilities such as parks or community centres, and generally to plan to meet your community's needs.
Businesses use information to decide where to set up their stores and what products to sell. Many community organisations use census information when they are applying for resources or monitoring public schemes.
Census information is also used to establish electoral boundaries for local and central government.
Because New Zealand’s population is always changing and growing, a population and dwellings census is held every five years. Comparing census information over time shows planners how the country is changing and allows them to predict how it will change in future.
Statistics New Zealand also produces population estimates that show how our population is changing in the short term. This gives planners information to work with between each census.