---
title: "A Less Frequent Census for New Zealand?"
description: "New Zealand may take its census every five years instead of every 10 years, according to its statistics minister, who says a final decision has not been made. The national census, scheduled for 2011, was postponed until 2013 because of damage and disruption from a large earthquake."
date: "2011-07-06"
authors:
  - name: "D’Vera Cohn"
    job_title: "Former Senior Writer/Editor"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/dvera-cohn/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2011/07/06/a-less-frequent-census-for-new-zealand/"
---

# A Less Frequent Census for New Zealand?

The New Zealand government, which conducts a national census every five years, is[ considering a change to taking a census every 10 years i](http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10736689)nstead. According to news reports, Statistics Minister Maurice Williamson told a legislative committee that it might be easier and more sensible to switch to a 1o-year frequency. No decision has been made, he said.

In another interview, the director of the Population Studies Centre at Waikato University, Richard Bedford, [raised concerns about a less frequent census.](http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/79332/government-considering-10-year-census) Counting the population every 10 years would sacrifice valuable information about shorter-term change, especially in a country where international migration plays a prominent role, he said.

The New Zealand census was scheduled to be taken this year, but has been [postponed until 2013](http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/Corporate/Corporate/CorporateCommunications_MRnext-census.aspx) because of [damage and disruption caused by a large earthquake.](https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2011/02/28/new-zealand-cancels-its-census/)