June 01, 2022
Māori Census gap has long term effect
The Associate Minister of Statistics, Meka Whaitiri, says the botched 2018 Census may have cost an eighth Māori seat in Parliament.
Statistics New Zealand has been working with iwi and Māori data experts to plug baps in the numbers and prevent a repeat.
Only about 68 per cent of Māori responded to the Census, compared with 88 per cent in 2013, with the ‘digital first’ approach taken by Statistics New Zealand getting the blame.
“So we undercooked Māoridom at an estimate of 50,000 from 2018. I suggest that’s almost an electorate seat so we could have had an extra Māori seat in Auckland for example,” Ms Whaitiri says.
She says it has affected spending on health, housing and education, particularly in the largest Māori population centre, Tāmaki Makaurau.