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Download AudioTe Whānau ā Apanui iwi has taken responsibility for conducting the census in its eastern Bay of Plenty rohe.
Spokesperson Willie Te Aho says the agreement with Stats NZ will allow it to get the data it needs to guide future decisions.
He says about 5000 people live in the area, Māori and pakeha, and the Iwi and its 13 hapū are able to draw on what they have learned running the Covid response.
“Our target is to hit at least 90 percent response rate. Back in 2018 it was below 60 percent and so by involving the Iwi and our hapū we intend to have a much better result and inform future investment,” Mr Te Aho says.
Packs for the March 7 Census went out at the weekend and whānau will assisted to fill in the forms where needed.
Stats NZ is also working with four Iwi in Tairawhiti and eight in Taitokerau,
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