--- title: What's happening with the New Zealand 2018 Census results? | .id blog description: We?re continuing to receive questions from our friends in local government about the New Zealand Census ? what happened, when is it being released, and what do the changes mean for me? Penny Bloomberg... image: https://blog.id.com.au/hubfs/ID-Blog-Media-2024/NZ-Census-2018.jpg --- [![id-Master-logo-colour-tight-crop](https://blog.id.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Logos/id-Master-logo-colour-tight-crop.png?width=2440&height=881&name=id-Master-logo-colour-tight-crop.png) ![id-Master-logo-colour-tight-crop](https://blog.id.com.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Logos/id-Master-logo-colour-tight-crop.png?width=2440&height=881&name=id-Master-logo-colour-tight-crop.png)](https://home.id.com.au) - Services - [Services for Local Government](https://home.id.com.au/services/local-government) - [Services for Industry](https://home.id.com.au/industry-services) - [Resources](https://home.id.com.au/demographic-resources) - [Case studies](https://home.id.com.au/case-studies) - [Blog](https://blog.id.com.au/) - [About](https://home.id.com.au/about-us) - [About .id (informed decisions)](https://home.id.com.au/about-us) - [Meet our team](https://home.id.com.au/about-us/meet-the-team) - [Careers](https://home.id.com.au/about-us/careers) - [.id scholarship](https://home.id.com.au/about-us/scholarship) - [Contact](https://home.id.com.au/contact-us) [BY INDUSTRY](https://home.id.com.au/#industry-services) - [Local government](https://home.id.com.au/services/local-government) - [Financial services](https://home.id.com.au/industries/financial-services) - [Utilities](https://home.id.com.au/industries/utilities) - [Education](https://home.id.com.au/industries/education) - [Retail](https://home.id.com.au/industries/retail) - [Emergency services](https://home.id.com.au/industries/emergency-services) [BY EXPERTISE](https://home.id.com.au/services/local-government#streams) - [Consulting](https://home.id.com.au/consulting-services/local-government) - [Demographics](https://home.id.com.au/services/local-government/demographics) - [Forecasting](https://home.id.com.au/forecasting/) - [Economics](https://home.id.com.au/services/local-government/economics) - [Housing](https://home.id.com.au/services/local-government/housing) - [Community views](https://home.id.com.au/community-views) [DIGITAL PLATFORM](https://home.id.com.au/services/local-government#platform) - [profile.id](https://home.id.com.au/community-profile) - [atlas.id](https://home.id.com.au/social-atlas) - [forecast.id](https://home.id.com.au/forecasting/forecast.id) - [economy.id](https://home.id.com.au/economic-profile) - [housing.id](https://home.id.com.au/housing-monitor) - [views.id](https://home.id.com.au/community-views) - [About .id (informed decisions)](https://home.id.com.au/about-us) - [Meet the team](https://home.id.com.au/about-us/meet-the-team) - [Careers](https://home.id.com.au/about-us/careers) - [.id scholarship](https://home.id.com.au/about-us/scholarship) - [Referencing .id as a source](https://home.id.com.au/about-us/referencing-and-sources) #### [BLOG](https://blog.id.com.au) # What’s happening with the New Zealand 2018 Census results? - [Population](https://home.id.com.au/idinsight/topic/population) - [Demographic analysis](https://home.id.com.au/idinsight/topic/demographic-analysis) - [Local area analysis](https://home.id.com.au/idinsight/topic/local-area-analysis) - [Population trends](https://home.id.com.au/idinsight/topic/population-trends) - [Australian census](https://home.id.com.au/idinsight/topic/australian-census) - [New Zealand population and census](https://home.id.com.au/idinsight/topic/new-zealand-population-and-census) - [Population forecasting](https://home.id.com.au/idinsight/topic/population-forecasting) - [Economic analysis](https://home.id.com.au/idinsight/topic/economic-analysis) - [Housing](https://home.id.com.au/idinsight/topic/housing) - [Community views](https://home.id.com.au/idinsight/topic/community-views) - [.id news](https://home.id.com.au/idinsight/topic/-id-news) - [Fun stuff](https://home.id.com.au/idinsight/topic/fun-stuff) - [Online tools](https://home.id.com.au/idinsight/topic/online-tools) - [Community profiles](https://content.id.com.au/community-profiles-australia) - [Social atlas](https://content.id.com.au/social-atlases-australia) - [Population forecasts](https://content.id.com.au/population-forecast-australia) - [Economic profiles](https://content.id.com.au/economic-profiles-australia) - [Housing monitors](https://housing.id.com.au/) - [Community views](https://views.id.com.au/local_governments) - [How to](https://home.id.com.au/idinsight/topic/how-to) - [Features and updates](https://home.id.com.au/new-data-and-features) ## What’s happening with the New Zealand 2018 Census results? [Penny - Population expert](https://blog.id.com.au/author/penny-population-expert) 09 Apr, 2019 *We’re continuing to receive questions from our friends in local government about the New Zealand Census – what happened, when is it being released, and what do the changes mean for me? Penny Bloomberg gives you the latest as we await official advice from Stats NZ.* --- ### Worth the wait: navigating the 2018 New Zealand Census If you only use Census data occasionally, we’ve written a simple guide to help you understand how changes in the 2018 New Zealand Census affect you. [Pre-register for your free copy here](https://content.id.com.au/ebook-2018-new-zealand-census), and we’ll email it to you when it is released next week. --- ### Still on tenterhooks? It is well known that the release of 2018 New Zealand Census data has been delayed because of a patchy response rate. Stats NZ has taken a wide-ranging approach to consider how best to build a more complete picture. An external panel of expert international statisticians has helped guide response and inform a separate review process (the report from this piece of work is due in July 2019). A public announcement is still planned for later in April to confirm when the census data will be released. ### What is Stats NZ doing to get the Census data sorted? In areas where there was a low response rate, Stats NZ is using other data sources to ‘impute’ data to create a complete dataset that can be used reliably to make decisions about the area. Stats NZ uses two types of imputation – donor and administrative data. **Donor imputation** matches the details of similar respondents to a response that has missing or unidentifiable data. Donor imputation uses a system is based on the Nearest-neighbour Imputation Methodology (NIM) and was first used to perform edit and imputation on Census data. The other imputation methodology – **administrative data imputation** – uses information on the respondent gathered from other datasets (e.g. health or education datasets), generating a response based on the respondent’s own characteristics. ### Strengths and weaknesses with imputation These methods are not perfect, and there may still be issues with the Census data after it is output. It is possible that Stats NZ may decide that data are not of sufficient quality to release for certain areas, or for certain [cross-tabulations](https://blog.id.com.au/2018/population/demographic-trends/communities-of-interest-the-census-superpower/), due to a lack of response to certain questions. This can create difficulties where, for instance, it may be possible to get a total population for an area, but not a full breakdown of all characteristics. **Donor imputations** have risks in under-identifying disadvantaged groups, who may be less likely to have filled in the Census form completely – if donor records are from higher socio-economic households, this could mask disadvantage which is crucial for council planning. Census is essential for understanding populations that “fall through the cracks” in areas of need, and in many cases, these are the areas with the lower response rates. **Administrative data imputation** might be a better option. However, privacy considerations mean that it’s often not possible to use administrative records to match individual records in the Census, and probabilistic matching needs to be used instead (matching like characteristics). This can actually run the risk of double counting some individuals, who may be in the Census with slightly different characteristics. Also, populations who are not registered in administrative databases would still be missed. If you’re interested in learning more about the various approaches to imputation, [this facts sheet](https://blog.id.com.au/hubfs/ID-Blog-Media-2024%20-%20PDF/2018-census-how-we-are-planning-to-adjust-for-missing-information.pdf) gives more detailed information. ### Learn more at Technical Census Seminars In addition to the planned April public announcement on release dates, Stats NZ is running some technical Census seminars in May to explain how they have used administrative data to supplement census responses in preparation for delivering the 2018 Census dataset. | Wellington | Hamilton | Auckland | Christchurch | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Grant Thornton Building 215 Lambton Quay | Waikato University | Auckland Council 135 Albert Street | Christchurch Council 53 Hereford Street | | 10am–12pm Wednesday 1 May | 1–3pm Thursday 2 May | 10am–12pm Friday 3 May | 10am–12pm Tuesday 7 May | **There is also a webinar planned at 10am on Monday 6 May, which will be available for download afterwards.** Book with Stats NZ before 17 April by emailing [censusexternalrelations@stats.govt.nz](mailto:censusexternalrelations@stats.govt.nz). If you’d prefer a summarised version, [register here for your copy of our free eBook](https://content.id.com.au/ebook-2018-new-zealand-census) – *Worth the wait: Navigating the 2018 New Zealand Census*, and read the simple explanation from our experts about what’s changed, and what it means for understanding and planning for your community. Tags: [New Zealand population and census](https://blog.id.com.au/topic/new-zealand-population-and-census) ##### Penny - Population expert Based in New Zealand, Penny primarily looks after our Kiwi clients but also lends her expertise to the Australian context. Penny has extensive experience as a Communication Manager in Local Government and has a degree in Business and Communications. She also brings a breadth of generalist management experience in fields as varied as research, civil defence, project and event management, marketing and training. Penny’s knowledge combined with the .id tools help clients work with their communities to empower grass roots decision-making, advocacy and grant applications, and focus on strengthening council-community relationships. Penny has a rural property and enjoys growing and eating food and wine, which she runs, walks, bikes or swims off, when she’s not in the art studio. Previous Story [The PM’s population policy: a NOM event](https://blog.id.com.au/2019/population/population-trends/the-pms-population-policy-a-nom-event) Next Story [How much of your area’s growth comes from...](https://blog.id.com.au/2019/population/how-much-of-your-areas-growth-comes-from-natural-increase/) ### Related Posts [New Zealand population and census](https://blog.id.com.au/topic/new-zealand-population-and-census) [![The tantalising idea of an annual census dataset](https://blog.id.com.au/hubfs/ID-Blog-Media-2024/NZ-Census-2018.jpg)](https://blog.id.com.au/2021/population/new-zealand-population-census/the-tantalising-idea-of-an-annual-census-dataset) 15 Mar, 2021 [The tantalising idea of an annual census dataset](https://blog.id.com.au/2021/population/new-zealand-population-census/the-tantalising-idea-of-an-annual-census-dataset) [New Zealand population and census](https://blog.id.com.au/topic/new-zealand-population-and-census) [![What does the 2018 Census tell us about New Zealand?](https://blog.id.com.au/hubfs/ID-Blog-Media-2024/Screen-Shot-2020-12-01-at-10.23.57-pm.png)](https://blog.id.com.au/2020/population/new-zealand-population-census/what-does-the-2018-census-tell-us-about-new-zealand) 08 Dec, 2020 [What does the 2018 Census tell us about New Zealand?](https://blog.id.com.au/2020/population/new-zealand-population-census/what-does-the-2018-census-tell-us-about-new-zealand) [New Zealand population and census](https://blog.id.com.au/topic/new-zealand-population-and-census) [![Final external report on 2018 NZ Census looks to future Censuses](https://blog.id.com.au/hubfs/ID-Blog-Media-2024/NZ-Census-2018-2.jpg)](https://blog.id.com.au/2020/population/new-zealand-population-census/final-external-report-on-2018-nz-census-looks-to-future-censuses) 12 Mar, 2020 [Final external report on 2018 NZ Census looks to future Censuses](https://blog.id.com.au/2020/population/new-zealand-population-census/final-external-report-on-2018-nz-census-looks-to-future-censuses) ### Leave a Reply [Next Story How much of your area’s growth comes from ‘natural increase’?](https://blog.id.com.au/2019/population/how-much-of-your-areas-growth-comes-from-natural-increase/) [Previous Story The PM’s population policy: a NOM event](https://blog.id.com.au/2019/population/population-trends/the-pms-population-policy-a-nom-event) ###### Other Resources [![Visit the demographic resource centre](https://hubspot-no-cache-ap1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/320463/9f91699d-64e2-4b1a-862a-a9b326d7ace7.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-ap1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/320463/9f91699d-64e2-4b1a-862a-a9b326d7ace7) [![New Call-to-Action](https://hubspot-no-cache-ap1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/320463/c38b4439-45ab-4e1b-b8e2-e2c83dcd4f2d.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-ap1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/320463/c38b4439-45ab-4e1b-b8e2-e2c83dcd4f2d) [![Living in place - Things to consider when surveying communities](https://hubspot-no-cache-ap1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/320463/edc7cbe4-2147-4109-804c-c409a6cc4ad4.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-ap1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/320463/edc7cbe4-2147-4109-804c-c409a6cc4ad4) [![New Call-to-Action](https://hubspot-no-cache-ap1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/320463/daf7b77f-d989-4d66-964e-394afb2b297c.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-ap1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/320463/daf7b77f-d989-4d66-964e-394afb2b297c) [![Living in place - learnings and applications](https://hubspot-no-cache-ap1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/320463/d18ace05-bcc1-4478-a1b4-b01c86d003e9.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-ap1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/320463/d18ace05-bcc1-4478-a1b4-b01c86d003e9) [![New Call-to-action](https://hubspot-no-cache-ap1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/320463/afec380f-71d7-4e79-b8b0-5b952ebe12e0.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-ap1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/320463/afec380f-71d7-4e79-b8b0-5b952ebe12e0) ![AoC-Australia-sm-1668562151-412x274](https://blog.id.com.au/hubfs/AoC-Australia-sm-1668562151-412x274.webp) In the spirit of reconciliation .id acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. 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