Submission for Data and Statistics (Census Amendment Bill)

Koi Tū has recently made a submission to the Justice Committee on the Data and Statistics (Census) Amendment Bill.

This Bill proposes changes to how New Zealand conducts the census, including greater use of administrative data, and delaying the next census until 2030.

Read the written submission

Koi Tū’s work directly engages with matters affected by the Amendment Bill, including evidence-based decision-making, population dynamics and trust in institutions.

Our submission stresses that good data is needed for evidence-driven policy. The higher the data quality, the better-informed decisions can be made, delivering better services and reducing the risk of costly mistakes. In Koi Tū’s view, the proposed amendment is more likely to weaken than strengthen data quality and coverage and therefore risk under-enumerating important parts of New Zealand society at the very time good evidence is most needed.

Furthermore, trust in both data and institutions is needed for social cohesion and a strong democracy. The shift seen overseas towards autocracy in previously well-regarded liberal democracies is directly related to the intentional downgrading of data collection and quality, often in the name of efficiency but with deeper motives.

At the same time, developments in big data and artificial intelligence (AI) create new opportunities for the government to use data in more sophisticated ways. However, this evolution must be underpinned by transparency, accountability, and an appropriate social license.

Koi Tū’s submission was prepared by Fellow Georgia Lala, Fellow Christopher Erwin, Senior Fellow Paul Spoonley and Managing Trustee Sir Peter Gluckman. Deputy Director Hema Sridhar delivered the oral submission to Parliament.