This Bill is an omnibus Bill as it amends more than 1 Act. It is introduced under Standing Order 267(1)(a) because the amendments deal with an interrelated topic that can be regarded as implementing a single broad policy. The single broad policy is that, from 2030, there will be an annual census.

Administrative-data-first approach to census of population and dwellings

This Bill amends the Data and Statistics Act 2022 (the Act) to—

require the publication of census data and statistics each year; and
move the next census from 2028 to 2030; and
clarify the census obligations of the Government Statistician (the Statistician) under a modern, administrative-data-first (admin-data-first) census approach; and
refine the law where needed to support the modern census approach.

Under the admin-data-first census approach, future censuses of the population and dwellings will be taken using administrative data (admin data) supported by survey data. This involves the following:

admin data collection on key census variables, which will be the foundation of the new approach:
a new annual sample survey that surveys a proportion of the population throughout the year, every year:
tailored solutions to meet the needs of Māori and harder-to-measure communities (for example, adding new questions to surveys for certain groups).

Policy context and objectives for admin-data-first approach to census

The transition to an admin-data-first approach to future censuses is required to respond to declines in affordability, efficiency, data quality, and timeliness under the full field enumeration survey approach. The full field enumeration survey approach is no longer financially sustainable. There is growing resistance to completing census forms and rising costs in maintaining survey response rates to preserve data quality. Increased investment for the 2023 census lifted response rates but, despite this, target response rates for some populations were not met.

Alongside this, a full field enumeration census model based on a 5-yearly survey is not delivering data at the frequency that users need to make well-informed decisions.

Using an admin-data-first approach supplemented by sample surveys, data collection will be ongoing. From 2030, statistics about the population and dwellings produced under the new census model will be published and available annually on an ongoing basis.

Census modernisation seeks—

greater flexibility through annual surveying and other tailored solutions to more regularly collect data on different topics, which will better meet the needs of users and provide important data for decision-making faster and more often:
improved efficiency across government by making better use of data that government already collects, enabling more accurate, timely, and efficient decision-making:
improved resilience to disruptions (such as severe weather events), because the census will not rely on a temporary data collection workforce for surveying within a short data collection window:
improved long-term fiscal sustainability, as opposed to the rising costs of maintaining adequate response rates.

Legislative amendment confirms census modernisation

The Act currently requires the Statistician to take a census of the population and dwellings of New Zealand in every fifth year after the last census. The last census was taken in 2023. Although the Statistician has discretion to decide how they will take the census, the Act implicitly assumes that the census will be a large-scale survey involving the total population of New Zealand.

As part of moving to a modern census, the Bill shifts the Statistician’s statutory census obligations from 5-yearly data collection to annual data publication. Publication is a stronger requirement than collection because publishing data first requires collecting and processing data (consistent with security, privacy, and public trust requirements) and producing statistics.

Specifically, the Bill requires the Statistician to publish, in each financial year, statistics from the census of population and dwellings about a specified reference date in the previous financial year. The Bill sets 30 June as a default reference date, although it allows the Statistician to set any date earlier in that financial year if necessary or desirable. The reference date is expected to be consistent over many years. This default date aligns with wider population statistics such as the annual estimated resident population.

This shift does not affect the Statistician’s obligations under electoral law to report the results of the census for electoral purposes. As such, separate legislative change is proposed to ensure that the national electoral boundary review is not triggered annually. This will be done through the Electoral (District Boundaries) Amendment Bill, which is expected to be introduced alongside this Bill.

This Bill further amends the Act to—

move the next census to 2030 to allow the time needed for all-of-government efforts to identify, sequence, and deliver the necessary improvements to admin data; and
remove most of section 34 and sections 38, 76(2), and 89 as those provisions are predicated on a full field enumeration survey; and
decouple engagement with Māori and consultation requirements from the 5-yearly census as a triggering event and instead impose a 3-yearly engagement and consultation obligation, beginning from mid-2030; and
refine the requirement to review the operation of the census so that the review cadence more effectively reflects the modern approach.

Electoral implications are addressed in related Bill

The 5-yearly census is important for the current electoral review process because it triggers certain national electoral boundary processes in the Electoral Act 1993 such as—

calculating the General and Māori electoral populations (as soon as practicable after the census), the number of North Island General electorates, and the number of Māori electorates:
ending the term of office of the 5 appointed members of the Representation Commission (on the date of the first periodical census after the date of appointment):
requiring the Surveyor-General to call a meeting of the ex officio members of the Representation Commission to nominate a new chairperson (as soon as possible after each periodical census):
beginning, after new appointments, the Representation Commission’s work to divide New Zealand into General and Māori electoral districts (after a periodical census and on no other occasion).

A shift from a 5-yearly census to an annual census would require an annual boundary review process, which is unworkable and impractical. The Bill does not directly address these issues; they are addressed in a separate Bill progressed by the Minister of Justice.

Changes to other legislation

The Bill amends the Local Electoral Act 2001 to ensure that local electoral settings remain aligned with the Act as amended and national electoral boundary review settings. Changing the definitions of counting day and census day to reflect the new census concept of a reference date is of primary interest. The data sources used in local electoral boundary reviews are not changing. Census data and population estimates continue to be permitted sources of population data.

The Bill also amends the Waste Minimisation Act 2008 to allow for an alternative source of population data to be used in financial years 2029/30 and 2030/31 when determining the share of the waste disposal levy that is payable to different local authorities. The share is based on the population in each district as shown in the last census. As the next census will be moved from 2028 to 2030, this data would be older than usual and allowing another source of data means estimated populations can be used instead.

Departmental disclosure statement

Statistics New Zealand is required to prepare a disclosure statement to assist with the scrutiny of this Bill. The disclosure statement provides access to information about the policy development of the Bill and identifies any significant or unusual legislative features of the Bill.

A copy of the statement can be found at http://legislation.govt.nz/disclosure.aspx?type=bill&subtype=government&year=2026&no=253

Regulatory impact statement

Statistics New Zealand produced a regulatory impact statement on 28 April 2025 to help inform the main policy decisions taken by the Government relating to the contents of this Bill.

A copy of this regulatory impact statement can be found at—

Clause by clause analysis

This Bill amends the Data and Statistics Act 2022 (the Data and Statistics Act) and other legislation. This Bill, apart from clauses 8, 9, and 15 to 21, comes into force on the day after Royal assent.

Clauses 8 and 9 come into force on 1 July 2030, the effect being that current sections 35 and 36 of the Data and Statistics Act (which require the Government Statistician (the Statistician) to engage with Māori, and consult certain persons, before determining the manner of taking, and the data to be collected in, a census) apply in respect of the next census.

Clauses 15 to 21 come into force on 1 January 2030. Some of the amendments made by those clauses relate to amendments being made to the Electoral Act 1993 by the Electoral (District Boundaries) Amendment Bill (the Electoral Amendment Bill), which has a commencement date of 1 January 2030.

Part 1Amendments to Data and Statistics Act 2022

Part 1 amends the Data and Statistics Act.

Main amendment

Clause 7 replaces section 34 of the Data and Statistics Act. Section 34 requires the Statistician to take a census of population and dwellings of New Zealand in every fifth year. Section 34 also specifies other matters related to the taking of a census, such as the information about a census that the Statistician must publish on an internet site and by any other means.

Section 34 is replaced to provide that, in each financial year (starting 1 July and ending 30 June), the Statistician must publish statistics from a census of population and dwellings in relation to the reference date for the previous financial year (see new section 34(1)). The reference date is the date specified by the Statistician for that year by notice in the Gazette or, if a date is not specified, 30 June (see new section 34(4) and (5)).

The Statistician may collect data by any means described in section 22 of the Data and Statistics Act for the purpose of publishing statistics from a census (see new section 34(3)).

The main effect of the replacement of section 34 is that the Statistician is no longer required to take a census every 5 years. Instead, the Statistician must publish statistics from a census each year.

Related amendments

Clauses 4 to 6 and 8 to 14 amend the Data and Statistics Act in relation to the replacement of section 34.

Clause 4 replaces section 4(e) of the Data and Statistics Act. Section 4(e) specifies that the Data and Statistics Act, in section 35, recognises and respects the Crown’s responsibility to give effect to the principles of te Tiriti o Waitangi/the Treaty of Waitangi by requiring the Statistician to engage with Māori on the census. Section 4(e) is replaced to reflect the changes to section 35 made by clause 8.

Clause 5 amends section 5 of the Data and Statistics Act, which is the overview section. Section 5(3)(d) is replaced to reflect the changes to sections 34 to 38 made by clauses 7 to 11.

Clause 6 amends section 6 of the Data and Statistics Act, which is the interpretation section, to insert a definition of financial year.

Clauses 8 and 9 replace sections 35 and 36 of the Data and Statistics Act to require the Statistician to engage with Māori, and consult certain persons, on the census at least every 3 years, rather than before each census.

Clause 10 amends section 37 of the Data and Statistics Act to require the Statistician to conduct a review of the census and present a report to the Minister at least every 5 years, rather than within 12 months after the last day of the period during which the census is taken.

Clause 11 repeals section 38 of the Data and Statistics Act, which requires an individual to obtain a copy of, or other details of how to access and respond to, a request made by the Statistician under section 23 as part of the census.

Clause 12 repeals section 76(2) of the Data and Statistics Act, which provides that it is not a defence to a prosecution under section 76 that neither a copy of, nor other details of how to access and respond to, a request made by the Statistician under section 23 as part of the census was delivered or given to the defendant.

Clause 13 repeals section 89 of the Data and Statistics Act, which specifies that a person who fails to comply with section 38 commits an infringement offence.

Clause 14 inserts new Part 2 into Schedule 1 of the Data and Statistics Act. New Part 2, as set out in Schedule 1 of this Bill, provides that, despite what new sections 34(1) and 37(1) require,—

the Statistician is not required to publish statistics from a census of population and dwellings until the financial year that starts on 1 July 2030 and ends on 30 June 2031 (see new clause 9 of Schedule 1); and
the Statistician must conduct a review of the census and present a report to the Minister—
- in the financial year that starts on 1 July 2031 and ends on 30 June 2032; and
- in the financial year that starts on 1 July 2034 and ends on 30 June 2035 (see new clause 10(1) of Schedule 1).

Part 2Related amendments to other legislation

Part 2 amends the following Acts and revokes the Data and Statistics (2023 Census) Order 2022 in relation to the changes made to the Data and Statistics Act by Part 1:

Bay of Plenty Regional Council (Maori Constituency Empowering) Act 2001:
Local Electoral Act 2001:
Waste Minimisation Act 2008:
Wellington Regional Water Board Act 1972.

Amendments to Bay of Plenty Regional Council (Maori Constituency Empowering) Act 2001

Clauses 16 and 17 amend the Bay of Plenty Regional Council (Maori Constituency Empowering) Act 2001.

Clause 16 amends section 3 of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council (Maori Constituency Empowering) Act 2001, which is the interpretation section. Section 3 is amended—

to repeal the definition of census as that term is not used in the Act; and
to change the meaning of general electoral population so that the term has the same meaning as in the Local Electoral Act 2001.

Clause 17 amends section 9 of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council (Maori Constituency Empowering) Act 2001, which requires the Statistician, at the request of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council or the Local Government Commission (the Commission), to supply the council or the Commission with a certificate specifying either—

the Māori electoral population and the general electoral population of the Bay of Plenty Region; or
the estimated Māori electoral population and the estimated general electoral population of the Bay of Plenty Region.

Section 9 is amended to repeal section 9(2). The definitions of Māori electoral population and general electoral population now effectively specify from where the Statistician must derive or obtain the numbers for the respective populations. Therefore, section 9(2) (which specifies from where the numbers for the Māori electoral population and the general electoral population of the region must be derived) is no longer required.

Amendments to Local Electoral Act 2001

Clauses 19 to 21 amend the Local Electoral Act 2001.

Clause 19 amends section 5 of the Local Electoral Act 2001, which is the interpretation section. Section 5 is amended—

to replace the definition of assessment date so that the term means a date after the date on which the Statistician most recently made a report under section 35(6) of the Electoral Act 1993 (as proposed to be amended by the Electoral Amendment Bill) and after the reference date of the most recently published census on which the Statistician assessed the number of persons; and
to simplify the definition of estimated general electoral population, with no change in effect; and
to replace the definition of general electoral population so that the term means—
- the figure for the General electoral population that was most recently reported by the Statistician under section 35(6)(b) of the Electoral Act 1993 (as proposed to be amended by the Electoral Amendment Bill); or
- if 1 or more censuses have been published since that report, the total ordinarily resident population as shown by the most recently published census, excluding the Māori electoral population; and
to replace the definition of Māori electoral population so that the term means—
- the figure for the Māori electoral population as derived from the most recent report made by the Statistician under section 35(6)(a) of the Electoral Act 1993 (as proposed to be amended by the Electoral Amendment Bill); or
- if 1 or more censuses have been published since that report, a figure representing both the persons registered as electors of the Māori electoral districts and a proportion of Māori persons who are not registered as electors of any electoral district and a proportion of Māori persons under the age of 18 years calculated in accordance with paragraph (b) of the definition; and
to repeal the definition of on census day as that term is no longer used in the Local Electoral Act 2001.

Clause 20 replaces section 19X of Local Electoral Act 2001, which requires the Statistician, when providing a certificate of the population of any region, district, local board area, constituency, ward, community, or subdivision or any proposed constituency, ward, community, or subdivision for the purposes of sections 19H to 19W of that Act, to provide a certificate of the ordinarily resident population—

as shown by the most recently published census (other than the figures for a census carried out in the year before a triennial general election of a territorial authority or regional council or the year in which such an election is to be held); or
as assessed by the Statistician at a later date.

Section 19X is replaced—

to enable the Statistician to provide a certificate of the ordinarily resident population of an area as shown by the most recently published census, even if the reference date of the most recently published census relates to the year before a triennial general election of a territorial authority or regional council or the year in which such an election is to be held; and
to provide that a certificate issued under that section may continue to be used for the purposes for which it was issued, even if the Statistician publishes an updated figure of the ordinarily resident population of the relevant area.

Clause 21 amends clause 7 of Schedule 1A of the Local Electoral Act 2001, which requires the Statistician, at the request of a territorial authority, a regional council, or the Commission, to supply the territorial authority, regional council, or Commission with a certificate specifying either—

the Māori electoral population and the general electoral population of the district or region; or
the estimated Māori electoral population and the estimated general electoral population of the district or region.

Clause 7 of Schedule 1A is amended to repeal clause 7(2) and (2A). The definitions of Māori electoral population and general electoral population now effectively specify from where the Statistician must derive or obtain the numbers for the respective populations. Therefore, clause 7(2) and (2A) (which specifies from where the numbers for the Māori electoral population and the general electoral population of the district or region must be derived) is no longer required.

Amendments to Waste Minimisation Act 2008

Clause 23 inserts new Part 2 into Schedule 1 of the Waste Minimisation Act 2008. New Part 2, as set out in Schedule 2 of this Bill, provides that the term district’s population (which is used in section 31(2) of the Act) has a different meaning in respect of—

the financial year that starts on 1 July 2029 and ends on 30 June 2030 (the 2029/30 financial year); and
the financial year that starts on 1 July 2030 and ends on 30 June 2031 (the 2030/31 financial year).

In respect of the 2029/30 and 2030/31 financial years, district’s population means—

the population of the district of the territorial authority as assessed by the Statistician most recently before the start of the financial year; or
if the district was constituted, or its boundaries were altered, after that assessment was made, the population of the district assessed by the Statistician as at the date of the district’s constitution or boundary alteration.

In respect of all other financial years, district’s population means the population of the district of the territorial authority as shown by the census most recently published before the start of the financial year or, in the case of a constitution or boundary alteration of the district after the publication of that census, the population of the district as assessed by the Statistician at the date of the constitution or boundary alteration.

The effect of this amendment is that the Secretary for the Environment must, when calculating each territorial authority’s share of waste disposal levy money collected in respect of the 2029/30 financial year and the 2030/31 financial year, use the most up-to-date assessment of the district’s population (rather than the population as shown by the 2023 census).

Amendments to Wellington Regional Water Board Act 1972

Clause 25 amends section 6(9) of the Wellington Regional Water Board Act 1972, which provides that if the population of any local district, or of any part of a local district that is within the Wellington Water Region, increases by natural growth as certified by the Statistician after each 5-yearly census, the Governor-General may increase the number of members of the Wellington Regional Water Board.

Section 6(9) is amended to replace the reference to the 5-yearly census with a reference to the most recently published census.

This amendment has no practical effect as the functions of the Wellington Regional Water Board have been taken over by the Greater Wellington Regional Council.

Revocation of Data and Statistics (2023 Census) Order 2022

Clause 26 revokes the Data and Statistics (2023 Census) Order 2022, which is spent.

Hon Dr Shane Reti

Data and Statistics (Census) Amendment Bill

Government Bill

253—1

	Explanatory note
1	Title
2	Commencement
	Part 1 Amendments to Data and Statistics Act 2022
3	Principal Act
4	Section 4 amended (Te Tiriti o Waitangi/Treaty of Waitangi)
5	Section 5 amended (Overview)
6	Section 6 amended (Interpretation)
7	Section 34 replaced (Census of population and dwellings)
	34	Census of population and dwellings
8	Section 35 replaced (Engagement with Māori on census)
	35	Engagement with Māori on census
9	Section 36 replaced (Consultation on census)
	36	Consultation on census
10	Section 37 amended (Review after each census)
11	Section 38 repealed (Duty to obtain details regarding request for data in census)
12	Section 76 amended (Failing or refusing to provide data)
13	Section 89 repealed (Infringement offence for failing to obtain request for data in census)
14	Schedule 1 amended
	Part 2 Related amendments to other legislation
	Amendments to Bay of Plenty Regional Council (Maori Constituency Empowering) Act 2001
15	Principal Act
16	Section 3 amended (Interpretation)
17	Section 9 amended (Population figures)
	Amendments to Local Electoral Act 2001
18	Principal Act
19	Section 5 amended (Interpretation)
20	Section 19X replaced (Certificate of Government Statistician)
	19X	Certificate of Government Statistician
21	Schedule 1A amended
	Amendment to Waste Minimisation Act 2008
22	Principal Act
23	Schedule 1 amended
	Amendment to Wellington Regional Water Board Act 1972
24	Principal Act
25	Section 6 amended (Members of Board)
	Data and Statistics (2023 Census) Order 2022 revoked
26	Data and Statistics (2023 Census) Order 2022 revoked
	Schedule 1 New Part 2 inserted into Schedule 1 of Data and Statistics Act 2022
	Schedule 2 New Part 2 inserted into Schedule 1 of Waste Minimisation Act 2008

The Parliament of New Zealand enacts as follows:

1 Title

This Act is the Data and Statistics (Census) Amendment Act 2026.

2 Commencement

(1)

This Act comes into force on the day after Royal assent, with some exceptions.

(2)

Sections 8 and 9 come into force on 1 July 2030.

(3)

Sections 15 to 21 come into force on 1 January 2030.

Part 1 Amendments to Data and Statistics Act 2022

3 Principal Act

This Part amends the Data and Statistics Act 2022.

4 Section 4 amended (Te Tiriti o Waitangi/Treaty of Waitangi)

Replace section 4(e) with:

(e)

in section 35, requires the Statistician to engage with Māori regarding the manner of collecting data for, and the data to be collected in, censuses of population and dwellings:

5 Section 5 amended (Overview)

Replace section 5(3)(d) with:

(d)

specific requirements regarding the census of population and dwellings (sections 34 to 37):

6 Section 6 amended (Interpretation)

In section 6, insert in its appropriate alphabetical order:

financial year means a period of 12 months starting on 1 July and ending on 30 June

7 Section 34 replaced (Census of population and dwellings)

Replace section 34 with:

34 Census of population and dwellings

(1)

In each financial year, the Statistician must publish statistics from a census of population and dwellings of New Zealand in relation to the reference date for the previous financial year.

(2)

Subsection (1) does not prevent the Statistician from publishing additional statistics from a census in relation to that reference date in a later financial year.

(3)

For the purpose of publishing statistics under this section, the Statistician may collect data by any means described in section 22.

(4)

The Statistician may, by notice in the Gazette, specify the reference date for any financial year.

(5)

If the reference date for a financial year is not specified, the reference date is 30 June.

8 Section 35 replaced (Engagement with Māori on census)

Replace section 35 with:

35 Engagement with Māori on census

(1)

At least every 3 years, the Statistician must engage with Māori regarding the manner of collecting data for, and the data to be collected in, censuses of population and dwellings.

(2)

The engagement must—

(a)

occur in ways that the Statistician is satisfied will promote the fulfilment of the Statistician’s duty in section 14(a); and

(b)

be used to inform decision-making about future censuses.

9 Section 36 replaced (Consultation on census)

Replace section 36 with:

36 Consultation on census

(1)

At least every 3 years, the Statistician must consult the following persons regarding the manner of collecting data for, and the data to be collected in, censuses of population and dwellings:

(a)

the public sector agencies and the Offices of Parliament that, in the opinion of the Statistician, have a particular interest in the census:

(b)

the public generally:

(c)

the individuals and organisations that, in the opinion of the Statistician, have a particular interest in the census.

(2)

The consultation—

(a)

may occur in the manner that the Statistician thinks appropriate; and

(b)

must be used to inform decision-making about future censuses.

10 Section 37 amended (Review after each census)

(1)

In the heading to section 37, replace “after” with “of”.

(2)

Replace section 37(1) with:

(1)

In at least every fifth financial year, the Statistician must—

(a)

conduct a review of the operation of the censuses of population and dwellings that have been carried out since the last review; and

(b)

present a report on the review to the Minister.

11 Section 38 repealed (Duty to obtain details regarding request for data in census)

Repeal section 38.

12 Section 76 amended (Failing or refusing to provide data)

Repeal section 76(2).

13 Section 89 repealed (Infringement offence for failing to obtain request for data in census)

Repeal section 89.

14 Schedule 1 amended

In Schedule 1,—

(a)

insert the Part set out in Schedule 1 of this Act as the last Part; and

(b)

make all necessary consequential amendments.

Part 2 Related amendments to other legislation

Amendments to Bay of Plenty Regional Council (Maori Constituency Empowering) Act 2001

15 Principal Act

Sections 16 and 17 amend the Bay of Plenty Regional Council (Maori Constituency Empowering) Act 2001.

16 Section 3 amended (Interpretation)

(1)

In section 3, repeal the definition of census.

(2)

In section 3, definition of general electoral population, replace “section 3(1) of the Electoral Act 1993” with “section 5(1) of the Local Electoral Act 2001”.

17 Section 9 amended (Population figures)

Repeal section 9(2).

Amendments to Local Electoral Act 2001

18 Principal Act

Sections 19 to 21 amend the Local Electoral Act 2001.

19 Section 5 amended (Interpretation)

(1)

In section 5(1), replace the definition of assessment date with:

assessment date means a date after both of the following dates on which the Government Statistician assessed the number of persons:

(a)

the date on which the Government Statistician most recently made a report under section 35(6) of the Electoral Act 1993:

(b)

the reference date of the most recently published census

(2)

In section 5(1), definition of estimated general electoral population, replace “date with the exception of the estimated Māori electoral population” with “date, excluding the estimated Māori electoral population”.

(3)

In section 5(1), replace the definition of general electoral population with:

general electoral population means—

(a)

the figure for the General electoral population that was most recently reported by the Government Statistician under section 35(6)(b) of the Electoral Act 1993; or

(b)

if 1 or more censuses have been published since that report, the total ordinarily resident population as shown by the most recently published census, excluding the Māori electoral population

(4)

In section 5(1), replace the definition of Māori electoral population with:

Māori electoral population means—

(a)

the figure for the Māori electoral population as derived from the most recent report made by the Government Statistician under section 35(6)(a) of the Electoral Act 1993; or

(b)

if 1 or more censuses have been published since that report, a figure representing both the persons registered as electors of the Māori electoral districts and a proportion of Māori persons who are not registered as electors of any electoral district and a proportion of Māori persons under the age of 18 years, which figure must be fixed—

(i)

by ascertaining a proportion determined by dividing—

(A)

the total number of persons, as at the reference date of the most recently published census, either registered as electors of Māori electoral districts or named on the dormant rolls for Māori electoral districts; by

(B)

the total number of Māori persons, as at the reference date of the most recently published census, either registered as electors of Māori electoral districts or General electoral districts or named on the dormant rolls for Māori electoral districts or General electoral districts; and

(ii)

by applying the proportion ascertained under subparagraph (i) to the total number of ordinarily resident Māori persons as shown by the most recently published census

(5)

In section 5(1), repeal the definition of on census day.

20 Section 19X replaced (Certificate of Government Statistician)

Replace section 19X with:

19X Certificate of Government Statistician

(1)

This section applies for the purposes of sections 19H to 19W.

(2)

A certificate issued by the Government Statistician as to the population of any region, district, local board area, constituency, ward, community, or subdivision or any proposed constituency, ward, community, or subdivision must specify—

(a)

the ordinarily resident population of that area as shown by the most recently published census; or

(b)

the ordinarily resident population of that area as otherwise assessed by the Government Statistician.

(3)

A certificate issued under this section may be used for the purposes for which it is issued, even if, after the certificate is issued, the Government Statistician publishes an updated figure of the ordinarily resident population of the area to which the certificate relates.

(4)

A territorial authority or a regional council must provide the Government Statistician with any information that the Government Statistician requires concerning the definition of an area to which a certificate is to relate.

21 Schedule 1A amended

(1)

In Schedule 1A, repeal clause 7(2).

(2)

In Schedule 1A, repeal clause 7(2A).

Amendment to Waste Minimisation Act 2008

22 Principal Act

Section 23 amends the Waste Minimisation Act 2008.

23 Schedule 1 amended

In Schedule 1,—

(a)

insert the Part set out in Schedule 2 of this Act as the last Part; and

(b)

make all necessary consequential amendments.

Amendment to Wellington Regional Water Board Act 1972

24 Principal Act

Section 25 amends the Wellington Regional Water Board Act 1972.

25 Section 6 amended (Members of Board)

In section 6(9), replace “certified by the Government Statistician after the census taken in 1976 and after each successive quinquennial census” with “shown by the most recently published census of population”.

Data and Statistics (2023 Census) Order 2022 revoked

26 Data and Statistics (2023 Census) Order 2022 revoked

The Data and Statistics (2023 Census) Order 2022 (SL 2022/259) is revoked.

Schedule 1 New Part 2 inserted into Schedule 1 of Data and Statistics Act 2022

s 14

Part 2 Provisions relating to Data and Statistics (Census) Amendment Act 2026

8 Interpretation

In this Part, 2026 amendment Act means the Data and Statistics (Census) Amendment Act 2026.

9 Statistician not required to publish statistics from census until 2030/31 financial year

Despite section 34(1) (as replaced by the 2026 amendment Act), the Statistician is not required to publish statistics from a census of population and dwellings until the financial year that starts on 1 July 2030 and ends on 30 June 2031.

10 Statistician must review census in certain financial years

(1)

Despite section 37(1) (as replaced by the 2026 amendment Act), the Statistician must conduct a review under that section and present a report on the review to the Minister—

(a)

in the financial year that starts on 1 July 2031 and ends on 30 June 2032; and

(b)

in the financial year that starts on 1 July 2034 and ends on 30 June 2035.

(2)

For the purposes of the reference in section 37(1) to every fifth financial year, the financial year referred to in subclause (1)(b) is counted as the first financial year.

Schedule 2 New Part 2 inserted into Schedule 1 of Waste Minimisation Act 2008

s 23

Part 2 Provision relating to Data and Statistics (Census) Amendment Act 2026

3 Definition of district’s population for certain financial years

(1)

This clause applies in respect of the following financial years:

(a)

the financial year that starts on 1 July 2029 and ends on 30 June 2030:

(b)

the financial year that starts on 1 July 2030 and ends on 30 June 2031.

(2)

Despite the definition of district’s population in section 31(2), the district’s population is—

(a)

the population of the district of the territorial authority as assessed by the Government Statistician most recently before the start of the financial year; or

(b)

if the district was constituted, or its boundaries were altered, after that assessment was made, the population of the district assessed by the Government Statistician as at the date of the district’s constitution or boundary alteration.