Rainbow advocates say if the Government goes ahead with the 2023 Census they will be failing Māori, Pacific people, and Rainbow communities.

The co-chairs of Wellington Pride are calling on the Government to postpone the Census until 2024 over fears communities affected by Cyclone Gabrielle will not be counted properly.

This year’s Census will be the first where questions about gender, sexual identity, and variation of sex characteristics (generally known as intersex) will be asked.

Wellington Pride Co-Chair Tahlia Aupapa-Martin (Ngaati Maniapoto, Kāti Māmoe, Kāi Tahu, Kūki ‘Airani) says the Census has failed Māori before and it will fail them again if they go ahead this year.

“While we’re glad that Rainbow communities are being recognised this year, the Census has a history of failing to accurately record data for Māori, Pasefika and many other marginalised communities,” Aupapa-Martin says.

“The decision to go forward with the 2023 Census is to fail Māori once again. Many whānau in Te Tairāwhiti and Ngāti Kahungunu remain unaccounted for, many are left with no postal addresses, power and internet or even homes.

“They will have no means to receive their Census packs and information regarding the Census, and we are extremely concerned that their lack of visibility will contribute further to poorer outcomes for these communities.”

Rainbow communities will also miss out on meaningful data being captured if the Census goes ahead, they say. 

They’re calling for a dynamic and flexible approach to this year’s Census so there can be an accurate representation of minority communities.

“The data captured by the Census will impact how, and to what extent, the Rainbow community is funded and supported by Government,”  Aupapa-Martin says.

“Accurate data will help the Government recognise how many people are part of the Rainbow community and where they are located. This will help create a better picture of us as a demographic - and being visible is the first step to being meaningfully supported.

“The aspirations of our diverse Rainbow communities will not be met if the 2023 Census fails to count us accurately.”

Making sure the Census reaches everyone

Mark Sowden, Government Statistician and Chief Executive of Statistics New Zealand says the wellbeing and welfare of communities affected by Cyclone Gabrielle is their top priority.

“We have worked closely with key partners including iwi-collectives leading Census collection in their rohe to develop options,” Sowden says.

“Everyone acknowledges the importance of quality data for all communities, and the role data has in supporting recovery in the areas most impacted by the cyclone. But the wellbeing of people affected by the cyclone is our priority.”

The Government says the 2023 Census collection period will be extended by up to eight weeks in areas impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle. This includes Northland, Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti.

It says extending the collection period means up to 1700 Census collectors will have more time to reach the most affected communities. 

Avoiding past failures

In 2011, the Census was postponed due to the Christchurch earthquake.

There has been similarly widespread displacement and devastation following Cyclone Gabrielle.

Vivian Lyngdoh, co-chair of Wellington Pride, says this shows there is precedent to postpone the Census.

“Delaying the Census is possible and is something we’ve done before. We have seen the enormous displacement and devastation due to Cyclone Gabrielle and it has hit largely brown, rural, and isolated communities. 

“Why are these groups being ignored?”

Aupapa-Martin says the last Census in 2018 was a “certified failure” for Māori, in that it undercounted the community. 

They say they hope the Government sees this Census as a renewed opportunity to “get it right”.

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