17 October 2023
Dr Adam Ward
[FYI request #24293 email]
Tēnā koe Dr Ward
Official Information Act (OIA) request: 2023 Census population by meshblock
On 30 September 2023 you contacted Stats NZ requesting, under the Official Information
Act 1982 (the Act), information as follows:
Please could you provide usually resident population counts by 2023 Meshblock
boundary as of the March 2023 Census. In previous census outputs this information
has been publicly released without small cell suppression or random rounding to base
three (which tends to upwardly bias population estimates).
If this information will be released as part of the standard census data publication
please feel free to ignore this request.
Data col ected from the 2023 Census is currently being processed and analysed in order
to produce a final data set. This process includes using administrative data, data from
previous censuses, and statistical methodologies to fil in gaps in what has been gathered
through the field col ection operation. Statistics from the 2023 Census cannot be
produced until this process has been completed.
Your request for data from the 2023 Census is therefore refused under section 18(g) of
the Act because the information is not held by Stats NZ in the requested form.
The first release of data from the 2023 Census is planned for May 2024 and will include
national and regional population and dwelling counts, and Māori descent counts, with
further data released subsequently. The ful schedule for the release of 2023 Census
data wil be published in late 2023.
We are not planning to publish meshblock data as part of the standard census data
publication. However, this information can be created from the data held by Stats NZ
upon receipt of a customised data request, with data available in 2024. Please note that
there is
a standard charge of $155 plus GST per hour for customised data requests.
We are currently taking expressions of interest from individuals who would like to receive
2023 Census information when it is available. If you would like to express your interest,
and/or discuss this data request further, you can get in contact with Ewan Jonasen in our
Customised Data Requests team. Ewan can be contacted by email at
[email address].
[Statistics New Zealand request email]
toll-free 0508 525 525
stats.govt.nz
8 Willis Street, Wellington
PO Box 2922, Wellington 6140
Please note that confidentiality is applied to al census information, including meshblock
counts. More information about how Stats NZ keeps census information safe is available
at the following links:
•
Privacy, security, and confidentiality principles | Census.govt.nz
•
Applying confidentiality rules to 2018 Census data and summary of changes since
2013 | Stats.govt.nz
Should you wish to discuss this response with us, please feel free to contact Stats NZ at:
[email address].
If you are not satisfied with this response, you can contact us on the email above to
discuss the response and/or you have the right to seek an investigation and review by the
Ombudsman. Information about how to make a complaint is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or 0800 802 602.
It is Stats NZ’s policy to proactively release its responses to official information requests
where possible. This letter, with your personal details removed, wil be published on the
Stats NZ website. Publishing responses creates greater openness and transparency of
government decision-making and helps better inform public understanding of the reasons
for decisions.
Nāku noa, nā
Mike Webb
Senior Manager – External & Government Relations | Office of the Chief Executive
Stats NZ Tatauranga Aotearoa
stats.govt.nz
[Statistics New Zealand request email]
toll-free 0508 525 525
stats.govt.nz
8 Willis Street, Wellington
PO Box 2922, Wellington 6140
