Value of the census for Māori

Value of the census for Māori was commissioned by Stats NZ in response to a query from the Data Iwi Leaders’ Group that sought to better understand the value of the census for Māori in New Zealand. It forms part of a response to that query and builds from the valuation for the whole census developed in 2013.

Download the report, or read the summary online.

Executive summary

Value of the census for Māori sets out the results from the first part of a process designed to provide an estimate of the value of the census for Māori in Aotearoa New Zealand. The census delivers considerable value for Māori, well above its costs and proportionately somewhat higher than for other New Zealanders. Estimated conservatively, the benefits for Māori are around eight times the costs and provide a net present value gained from use of the census of around $500 million.

Of the three key areas where census collects specific information on Māori (ethnicity, descent, and iwi affiliation), the main benefits at this time come from the use of ethnicity data in allocating government funding and services.

In many areas, use of the census delivers a set of benefits that are shared with other New Zealanders, for whom benefits were estimated at around six times the costs. But for Māori, there are two other significant benefits:

1. The census provides the only overall authoritative data on the numbers of people identifying Māori descent (some 16 percent higher than those choosing Māori ethnicity) and their iwi affiliations.
2. The census, including Te Kupenga (the survey of Māori wellbeing), provides the sole reliable collective source of information that connects information about individual Māori with whānau/iwi and their household characteristics.

Crucially, the census provides generally reliable and authoritative visibility for a group whose outcomes are often less desirable than for many other New Zealanders.

Looking forward, benefits will probably be greater as the demand for iwi affiliation information grows. The government is increasingly focused on designing and delivering policies and services in partnership with iwi, hapū, and whānau so that they more consistently strengthen capabilities and lift outcomes. A reliable census offers some of the key information that will be needed to help shape these initiatives.

This report was written by Carl Bakker of Acuo Limited. All enquiries about information contained in the report should be directed to:

Carl Bakker
Acuo Limited
Phone: +64 21 977 702
Email: carl@acuo.co.nz

ISBN 978-1-98-858365-5 (online)