Background

Evolution of problem

Following the 2006 New Zealandcensus, a review was undertaken by Statistics New Zealand into the official New Zealandstatistical ethnicity standards.[1] This review was somewhat due to the census response of ‘New Zealander’ that had quietly arisen as an ethnicity response in 1981 and increased from 90,000 to a massive 400,000 between 2001 and 2006.[2] New Zealander currently stands as the third largest ethnic group in New Zealand. Statistics New Zealand currently adds counts all ‘New Zealanders’ as ‘New Zealand Europeans,’ causing further issues in public confidence in regards to statistical accuracy.[3]

Whilst ethnicity is defined by Statistics New Zealand as self-identifiable, this response and its categorization highlights consistency issues within officialNew Zealandstatistics and is a continued cause of concern in regards to accurate policy implementation and resource distribution.

Following the completion of the review in 2009, the Government Statistician Geoff Bascand concluded that minimal changes would be made to the ethnicity question until the completion of the 2011 national census. The rationale for this was claimed to be in order to maintain statistical consistency.[4] Due to the 2010-2011 Christchurch earthquakes the national census has been post-phoned and will now take place in 2013.[5]