Families Commission urges families to be counted on census day

The Families Commission is urging all families and whānau to complete the census tomorrow so that their needs are counted.

Acting Chief Executive Len Cook says the Government uses this information to make key decisions about what services are needed and funded, and where they should be located.

“It’s vital that families participate so that good future decisions can be made about the things that matter to families including schools/ köhanga reo, hospitals, public transport and sports and recreation facilities.

“The census of population is our most important source of information about families and generates the knowledge we have about families today and what they will look like in the future.”

New Zealand families that are Pakeha, Māori, of Pacific or Asian origins, are changing in very different ways. It is therefore important that all public policies - and especially those about children, households, the elderly and working life - understand these differences.

Len Cooks says, “New Zealanders of all communities participate well in the census because of its special place in their future. The changing mix of who we are as a country makes this census especially important.”

ENDS

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