Data and Statistics (Census) Amendment Bill
New Zealand currently counts everyone in the country every five years in a big survey called a census. This bill changes that so instead of a large survey every five years, the Government Statistician will publish population and housing data every year starting from 2030, using records the government already holds — like tax, health, and benefit records — topped up with smaller surveys. The next big census, which was due in 2028, is pushed back to 2030 to allow time to set up the new system.
What this affects
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How councils and the government share out waste levy money will use more up-to-date population figures during the changeover years, instead of older census data.
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)
district's population means the population of the district of the territorial authority as assessed by the Government Statistician most recently before the start of the financial year
Progress through Parliament
Have your say
This bill is open for public submissions to the Justice Committee. Anyone can tell the committee what they think, and you don’t need to be an expert. Submissions close 14 April 2026.
Bill text sourced from legislation.govt.nz (Parliamentary Counsel Office). Arapono’s summary and breakdown are drafted with AI grounded in that official text and reviewed by an Arapono editor for accuracy and neutrality before publishing. Arapono is non-partisan and takes no position on this bill.