New Zealand Census

Censuses are a count and a description of the population. They are taken primarily for population studies, taxation, and military purposes. Information in censuses may include residences, ages, birthplaces, family members and relationships, occupations, emigration dates and migration.

New Zealand Census Information Centers
Our Information Centre staff know what information is available, and how it can be used to your best advantage. Think of them as your guides to Statistics New Zealand.

They will answer simple questions free of charge. More extensive answers may sometimes incur costs, but we always give you a free no-obligation quote before going ahead.

Each Information Centre has a collection of Statistics NZ publications and Internet access. These can be browsed and copied but material cannot be borrowed.

Here are a list of the centers and their information:

Auckland
UniServices House 70 Symonds Street Private Bag 92003 Auckland 1142 Phone: (09) 920 9100 Fax: (09) 920 9198

Wellington
Statistics House, The Boulevard, Harbour Quays PO Box 2922 Wellington 6140 Phone: (04) 931 4600 Fax: (04) 931 4610

Christchurch
Dollan House, 401 Madras Street Private Bag 4741 Christchurch 8140 Phone: (03) 964 8700 Fax: (03) 964 8964

Education services
Phone: +64 4 931 4924 Email: [mailto:educationservices@stats.govt.nz educationservices@stats.govt.nz]

Media enquiries
For general enquiries: Contact Anne Hannah Phone: +64 4 931 4630 For statistical information:

Phone: 0508 525 525 (toll-free in New Zealand)

Information about people in New Zealand includes details about the population (eg births, deaths, age, education, ethnicity, life expectancy), the communities we live in (eg families and households, housing, work and income), and social themes (eg crime, the road toll, poverty).

Information about population includes details about the number and characteristics of people who live in New Zealand. These numbers are produced as:


 * counts (from five-yearly censuses that count people and their characteristics, eg age, sex and ethnicity)
 * estimates (estimated changes to the population using census counts and births, deaths and migration)
 * projections (projected future changes to the population).

Population information also provides details about events that affect the number and structure of the population. These include births, deaths, migration, marriage and divorce.

The population of New Zealand was enumerated from 1858 to the present. However, the pre-1966 returns have been destroyed with the exception of a few for the Maori population (1891-Famly History Library film 449437, item 2; 1911-Family History Library film 449444, item 8). Post-1966 returns are closed to the public until 2066.

Since most census returns have been destroyed, researchers use substitutes which list people, such as almanacs, directories, electoral rolls, lists of property owners and occupants, juror lists, and school records. See the appropriate section of this outline for information regarding these records.