Census collectors back on the streets

It’s a mammoth job delivering 6.4 million census forms to 1.8 million homes – now they have to be collected.

“Census collectors are back on the streets today beginning the pick-up of forms that have not been returned online,” General Manager 2013 Census Carol Slappendel said.

“The delivery to, and collection of census forms from, all households in New Zealand takes at least 550,000 working hours.

“If one person had to do the job on their own working eight hours a day, 365 days a year, it would take them 188 years.

“Luckily Statistics New Zealand has a team of 7,000 trained collectors who will do most of this task over a six week period.

“If you have not completed your census forms there is still time.

“If everyone in your home completes your forms online, the collector may not need to call back. If you want to fill in your forms on paper you just need to do so before your collector calls back.

“If for some reason you still have not received your census forms, or if you need extra forms, please contact the census Helpline on 0800 CENSUS (0800 236 787).

“Everyone who was in New Zealand on the night of 5 March must complete a census form. Apart from census information being important for future planning decisions by businesses, councils and community groups, it is a legal requirement to participate in the census,” Carol Slappendel said.

For more about the 2013 Census see www.census.govt.nz.

ENDS

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