Did you spot the Census NZ purple caravan around town earlier this year? The preliminary Census results are in, and we got 97% uptake across the West Coast!
We are so impressed with the response rate this year, the last census was missing a lot of West Coast communities so we’re thrilled that this time round, we’ll have a far more accurate representation.
Why is the census so important? It's not just about numbers; it's about finding out what our communities need, so that we can plan how to respond. Census data also helps determine the funding we receive, which directly impacts the community.
A huge shoutout and thank you to the collectors from our community who did a fantastic job promoting the census and gathering responses. Whether you were a collector, encouraged others to complete the census or filled it out yourself, everyone did their bit.
So, what's next? The first release of data will be in 2024 so we’ll have to wait until next year to see what the data reveals. The census data will then inform government agencies, councils, community groups and businesses for the coming years. This data will help us adapt to the evolving needs of Grey District residents, ensuring that everyone can be active, engaged, and involved citizens.
