NZ Census
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Topic: NZ Census
Posted By: jazzy
Subject: NZ Census
Date Posted: 19 February 2011 at 2:55pm
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We just how forms dropped off. It is for the 8th of March.
How do you feel about filling out these forms. Putting down your personal details for people to see & read (yes I know only certain people but still). Writing down your income, where you work, your religion, health problems, education, relationship (opposite or same sex). How many rooms you have, etc... I think a lot of the information they want can be got from government departments, like BD&M, they must know how many benefits are paid out & how many working with the taxes they rake in. The must know how much is spent on acc & operations etc in the health sector. Is it there lazy way of getting information? Are you happy to supply it? |
Replies:
Posted By: blondy
Date Posted: 19 February 2011 at 3:04pm
If government departments knew how to communicate with each other, life would be much easier!  I believe the census data is collected by NZ Statistics (correct me if I'm wrong), and as such, they probably don't have access to any of the government info on people's personal details (and imagine the paperwork involved in getting consent to pass along the info!)
I see the census as being a snapshot of our society, and it does provide useful, detailed info about our communities 
Totally happy to provide our details, but then again, I've been involved in a long-term NZstatistics study that we had to give yearly very in-depth interviews to, so the census doesn't seem that invasive at all!
Plus, it provides a great resource for looking up geneology down the line... -------------  
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Posted By: jazzy
Date Posted: 19 February 2011 at 3:11pm
| I just wonder how many don't fill it out or fill it out in correctly. |
Posted By: blondy
Date Posted: 19 February 2011 at 3:42pm
you're right - and there was that incident back in the 2001 census where people wrote 'jedi' as their religion to see if they could get it officially recognised  -------------
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Posted By: Hopes
Date Posted: 19 February 2011 at 5:06pm
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I'm fine with giving it. As I see it, it's not like any of the information I'm giving is information they couldn't get from somewhere else if they really wanted. So I don't mind telling StatsNZ or anything.
In theory, yes, they could get some of it other places if they wanted... but then again, I can see the headaches there. Some information would be a year or so old... and there would still be questions they'd have to ask me anyway, like my religion for example. It seems to me that asking everything at the same time is probably the most cost-effective anyway. And as far as the Jedi thing goes, I guess that information still tells you a fair bit about those people's views on religion  -------------   
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Posted By: MyLilSquishy
Date Posted: 19 February 2011 at 5:18pm
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i have no problem giving the info. its collected by NZ statistics and as far as im aware they dont have access to the govt details. agree with the snapshot comment... but at the same time... there will always be those people that provide incorrect information. which is where the 'average' and variations help.
IMO they just have to take it with a grain of salt. it would be the easiest way for them to compile the data instead of going to multiple govt depts. where the information would be old by the time they got it, this way they can just get it in one go... |
Posted By: jazzy
Date Posted: 19 February 2011 at 5:33pm
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My one is pretty boring & I have no problem filling it out.
Pity you have to get to question 20 when filling out kids ones, don't think it would of been too hard to add them to a parents form... As least you can do it online now if you want. It says on the dwelling one you can not list a pantry as a room, wish mine was that big, lol
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Posted By: happymum21
Date Posted: 19 February 2011 at 5:50pm
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This year I'm working for Stats NZ on the Census. Now I understand more how they use the information provided I think it is valuable information. The information they use is for future planning, also businesses can use it to decide if their target market is likely to be in a certain area, used for planning future schools, public transport, health care etc etc etc.
I doubt very much that other government departments would be able to supply other information due to the privacy act and also it wouldn't necessarily be correct at the time of requesting the information from other government departments. This year they really want to encourage online completion of forms. This is good as it's secure and quicker than filling out the paper forms so I highly recommend doing that. Oh and interestingly enough, the information is that confidential that not even Police or Immigration can request the information (as far as respondents details go). One of the people who delivers census forms said that s/he went to a house and around the back there was a huge plantation of dope. S/he was quite concerned about this as a citizen but as a census employee s/he is prohibited from informing police about it. S/he had to pretend she didn't see anything. I guess it could be an eye opener in some places! ------------- Becs |
Posted By: jazzy
Date Posted: 19 February 2011 at 6:08pm
interesting. Do you know what happens to your address & name information. I can understand why they may want to know how many people living on a street & how many cars using that street but does it matter that Joe Blogs lives there? How can people access the information? Can a business request a count of how many people living in the area or if a clinic was to be located in a area would they be able to access the ones that have ticked the box to say they have a disability? |
mum2alana wrote:Posted By: jazzy
Date Posted: 19 February 2011 at 6:11pm
I don't think that should be right, yes the information you supply in writing on the form should not be passed on for any other reason & your name & address should be confidential. But breaking the law should not. |
Posted By: happymum21
Date Posted: 19 February 2011 at 6:18pm
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Here's a link regarding community uses of information. It will give you more information and it's quite interesting to look at your specific area to see what's been happening as a result of census data.
http://www.stats.govt.nz/Census/about-2006-census/2006-census-comms-stories.aspx As for your name and address information, I can't actually answer that as I am not sure myself. I do know that after census they do go on to interview people further depending on some answers to their census questions so perhaps it's so they can identify the right person if they need to ask further questions. ------------- Becs |
Posted By: happymum21
Date Posted: 19 February 2011 at 6:25pm
I see your point and agree with you however in order for a census to be effective then every person in the population needs to provide information. If people who grow dope in their backyards suddenly hear that backyard busts occur often in Feb/March every 5 years when census happens then they are likely to possibly 'temporarily' move so they don't get caught. This would affect the data in that it would then become biased. Also, a person collecting/delivering forms would not normally likely visit that place for any other reason. They are also expected to be impartial, trustworthy and neutral and have a lifetime secrecy with any information collected including any dope plots (or otherwise) seen  ------------- Becs |
Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 19 February 2011 at 6:37pm
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yeah i agree with above.. while i see what you mean though jazzy..
i have no problem with it either..provides useful info and people can find anything about you these days with the click of a button unfortunately:( ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 19 February 2011 at 6:47pm
| If you ever do genealogy you will see the importance of knowing that Joe Bloggs lived at such and such a street at such and such a time. I dont think business can get personal info but they would be able to get the demographics. If you look on some of the reports available on qv.co.nz (for buying a house etc) it tells you things like, the spread of incomes, ethnicities, home ownership, education level etc...that all comes from census info. |
Posted By: AngieBabe
Date Posted: 19 February 2011 at 7:02pm
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The level and detail of sharing info collated from the census is ruled very strictly by the Privacy Act - so in the instances of businesses using census info to help with such things as marketing demographics, what is given to them would never be able to personally identify anyone. Hope that makes sense.
As someone else mentioned, Privacy Act also governs how Government departments share information - correct me if I'm wrong but for them to share to the level required for census there would have to be Parliamentary debate, and law changes. Personally, I don't mind the census at all ... afterall, it provides DSs father with a job so he can pay child support ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">  
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Posted By: tishy
Date Posted: 19 February 2011 at 7:21pm
That's how I see it too. It's not just a 'population count', it's more about trying to create a snapshot of NZ as a whole. My mum was a tourist in NZ during the last Census and had to fill it out at the motel she was staying at on the night. |
Posted By: jazzy
Date Posted: 19 February 2011 at 10:10pm
lol 
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Posted By: kiwisj
Date Posted: 20 February 2011 at 2:26pm
That will be us this year
I don't have a problem filling out the info at all either. ------------- SJ Callum - Dec 2008 Daniel - Oct 2010 |
Posted By: mothermercury
Date Posted: 20 February 2011 at 2:34pm
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Am I the only freak that likes filling out forms?
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Posted By: ereynolds
Date Posted: 20 February 2011 at 3:25pm
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mum2alana, me too- I'm also working on the Census in my area- just about to go out and do another round this avo.
hehe MissShell, you just might be! ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">  http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 20 February 2011 at 3:52pm
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I'm more interested in this years census cause I get to fill in a form for DD, I like doing the census Miss Shell ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">   [/url] Angel June 2012 |
Posted By: Plushie
Date Posted: 20 February 2011 at 5:40pm
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I like the census too, last time i did one in my uni dorm cafe (we had to do them all together) my life has changed SO MUCH since then, its crazy to think about.
So do you get a whole seperate form for kids? I was curious about that, i mean he'll be a month old, does he get his own form or is there just a dependants box on mine? |
Posted By: jazzy
Date Posted: 20 February 2011 at 5:54pm
| yip separate forms for kids & you have to fill them out to question 20 so for me who does not like filling out forms & DH who likes filling them even less than me, means I have 4 to fill out & the dwelling form & help/do DH's. |
Posted By: RachFizz
Date Posted: 20 February 2011 at 5:55pm
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I like it. A few reasons lol: -I think it's the novelty of doing something the whole country is doing -It's important -I have no problem providing all my details. not a very private person and I trust whoever's doing it -I like nitpicky things like filling in forms correctly hehe ------------- TTC#1 since Apr11 On hold for study! |
Posted By: jazzy
Date Posted: 20 February 2011 at 6:02pm
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well I must be the odd one out, lol
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Posted By: tishy
Date Posted: 20 February 2011 at 6:29pm
I do too! I've got census and citizenship forms to fill out this month. I'm quite excited 
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Posted By: jaycee
Date Posted: 20 February 2011 at 6:42pm
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I like filling them out too I hear you about how much things change in 5 years Bowie - in our last one I was very pregnant with Amy, so much has happened since then
Yay for the Citizenship forms Tishy -------------   
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Posted By: newme
Date Posted: 20 February 2011 at 7:43pm
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I LOVE filling out forms too. Always have. This year I will get to do forms for myself, DH, DS1, DS2 and the dwelling form. Can't wait!!!!
And I will be putting Jedi as my religion again! In fact, since I will be the form filler-outerer, I think we will all be Jedi's this year. |
Posted By: minik8e
Date Posted: 20 February 2011 at 7:47pm
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I'm working with the Census this year as well I haven't started to deliver my forms yet (have been at work this weekend instead) but have a large, somewhat rural, area to cover, so it's going to be very interesting!!!
And I don't mind filling out forms, BUT for those of you who don't like it - why not fill it out online??? That means there's no chance of your collector or anyone else seeing it, except the computer on the other end and the person who collates all of the data. And it's soooo freaking easy!! |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 20 February 2011 at 8:26pm
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Wow if any of you form-haters live anywhere near me, come visit for the day of the census!!! LOL
And that's why I often get my siblings' tax returns to complete haha -------------  |
Posted By: MamaT
Date Posted: 21 February 2011 at 10:57am
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I'm looking forward to the census too, I also love filling in forms, I'll get to do 3 this year.
It provides really important information and it is surprising just who uses some of the info. I've had to use it for research projects at uni before, without the census that information would be very difficult to get hold of. I agree Bowie, 5 years ago, I was filling mine in at my student flat, it feels like a lifetime ago. -------------  
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Posted By: meganflett
Date Posted: 21 February 2011 at 2:11pm
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This will be my first time ever filling one out...back home in aus i was always too young and mum just filled in our details...im kinda excited to have something important to do!
So should the forms be delivered everywhere soon ? I think hubby and I will just do them online but it says you have to have an internet code so im guessing it comes on the form? I was interested in delivering them but DH reminded me i can barely stand for 10 minutes before my back gets sore as it is so being 27 weeks pregnant is not idea lol ------------- 
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Posted By: jazzy
Date Posted: 21 February 2011 at 2:27pm
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I got our forms in the weekend & they gave me an envelope with the code in so all secure...well as secure as the internet is, lol I will do ours online.
Is there a certain time you have to do it from? I guess when everyone is home. |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 21 February 2011 at 8:09pm
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We got our forms today and I'll have 6 to fill in provided DH wants to do his own and because DD wants to do hers (so I'll help with that). 6!!!!!!!!!!
I have a scullery as big as a regular kitchen I mean, there's 5 pantries, two freezers in there with room to spare. So is that a room or a pantry?  ------------- |
Posted By: jazzy
Date Posted: 21 February 2011 at 8:30pm
I am jealous, lol I don't think they would count that. I don't think its the size of a room but more what the room is used for.
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Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 21 February 2011 at 9:00pm
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buy an ex-hotel Jazzy My kitchen's about 5x6m (that's excluding the scullery)!! ------------- |
Posted By: Bee2010
Date Posted: 21 February 2011 at 11:25pm
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Got the Forms today as well and I love filling out Forms, too so I went straight online and did it so ours is done and dusted .
I have no problem with filling out the Census Forms and it was our first time as 5 years ago we both weren't in NZ. -------------   Angel Babe in our - 07/08
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Posted By: jazzy
Date Posted: 22 February 2011 at 7:03am
wow, lol...so how many rooms do you have? |
Posted By: AandCsmum
Date Posted: 22 February 2011 at 8:48am
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One of my favourite memories as a kid/teenager was knowing that EVERYONE in the country was sitting down at a certain time (is it still a certain time??) to fill in the census, it was like an awe thing lol
So yep looking forward to filling out my forms the old fashioned way. ------------- Kel http://lilypie.com"> 
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12 |
Posted By: tropics
Date Posted: 22 February 2011 at 5:04pm
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I dont have a problem with it at all, as blondy said its a snapshot of our population at one given point and time
I use to be a policy planner for a Council and we use to use the information from statistics nz all the time for working out population projections etc which in turn is used to work out things like predicted zonings for new schools, and other infrastrucutre needed like rest homes, hospitals, parks etc so really its a snapshot of the population at any given time which can be used to provide invaluable information for the future planning of an area Statistics nz have a website that you can access the information off, quite interesting stuff! Right off to fill my forms out ------------- http://lilypie.com">    [/url]
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Posted By: Babykatnz
Date Posted: 22 February 2011 at 6:21pm
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Has anyone else NOT got their forms yet?? I dont particularly want to be doing them in hospital lol ------------- Brandon - 05/12/2003  
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Posted By: sbeach
Date Posted: 22 February 2011 at 6:28pm
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Im in otahuhu and havent got mine either... ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">  http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: shadowfeet
Date Posted: 22 February 2011 at 6:37pm
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I only got mine yesterday so they will be coming soon ------------- 
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Posted By: EmDee
Date Posted: 22 February 2011 at 6:42pm
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I'm in Hamilton and we don't have ours yet either.
I don't have any issues filling them out and like a lot of you quite enjoy filling out forms  ------------- DS 8 DD 6 DS 4 DD 2 |
Posted By: Babykatnz
Date Posted: 22 February 2011 at 7:46pm
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lol, about an hour later ours turned up Cant fill mine out til after I've had this baby so I guess its not like theres any hurry! ------------- Brandon - 05/12/2003
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Posted By: Kalimirella
Date Posted: 22 February 2011 at 8:53pm
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We don't have ours yet. ------------- Kiara is 3 and Teagan is 2, now we're expecting our long awaited 3rd! http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: Plushie
Date Posted: 22 February 2011 at 9:16pm
| None here either, bum! Census chch is going to be a bit screwed. (not that its important or anything considering!) |
Posted By: JadeC
Date Posted: 22 February 2011 at 9:48pm
This was us, both DH and I are registered as Jedi I wonder what we will put this year!!
I LOVE census, just love it. I love research, and I think it's important info for the govt to have. And for those who don't think the govt needs to know Joe Blogs lives at whatever address, what about the electoral roll? Or car registrations? Or the phone book? I just don't understand the harm that could come from the govt knowing that kind of information. ------------- http://pregnancy.baby-gaga.com/" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 22 February 2011 at 9:50pm
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Jazzy - 1 bdrms, 1 is used as a study, we have 3 boarders and 2 spare rooms ------------- |
Posted By: minik8e
Date Posted: 22 February 2011 at 10:01pm
| Be patient....we have about a week and a half to deliver the forms, and some of us have rather LARGE areas to deliver too!!! |
Posted By: KrazeeKaz
Date Posted: 23 February 2011 at 8:22am
We got ours a couple of days ago, and I have already filled them out  ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: My3Sons
Date Posted: 23 February 2011 at 8:49am
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ours arrived on Sunday, such a great idea to be able to do them online this year! ------------- Mum to Mr 10, Mr 6 and Mr 4
 
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There are 6 forms to fill out for our place this yearPosted By: Mucky_Tiger
Date Posted: 23 February 2011 at 11:04am
| i dont have a form now. I was down to be residing in chch and well theres no house there now and god knows where the forms landed |
Posted By: Babykatnz
Date Posted: 23 February 2011 at 11:46am
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MT, the census volunteer people go from house to house and hand over however many forms are needed (i.e one per person staying there), it doesnt go to the address you are registered as living at.
The person who dropped ours off told us that if all forms are filled out online at any given household (i.e if we fill out all 5 of ours by the 8th) then they get a text message telling them pick-up isn't necessary, what a time-saver! ------------- Brandon - 05/12/2003
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Posted By: Hopes
Date Posted: 23 February 2011 at 11:49am
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Just realised last night that I'm not even going to get to do them this year - we'll be in Aussie from 3 March. Poos -------------
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Posted By: Mucky_Tiger
Date Posted: 23 February 2011 at 12:06pm
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BK, im supposed to have been in chch from 13th feb to 18th march but given the earthquake i dont have a form now as they had been delivered to both houses already.
as far as census knows there should have been 3 ppl in chch and 2 in dunedin but now im back in dunedin its 3 down here and no house to do census about in chch |
Posted By: jazzy
Date Posted: 23 February 2011 at 12:58pm
there will be heaps of people all over the place because of the earthquake. I just feel so sorry for the ones that got there forms & would of looked through them & would known what they would write & now don't have the amount of people in the house as they said cause they may of been killed 
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Posted By: minik8e
Date Posted: 24 February 2011 at 1:16pm
| MT - you can always request more forms. You can either go to www.census.govt.nz or ring 0800 CENSUS. They will sort it all out at their end. ChCh is going to throw the whole thing for a loop. |
Posted By: frangipanigirl
Date Posted: 24 February 2011 at 1:37pm
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I was thinking maybe they will delay it a bit to let chc settle down. Maybe, guess we will find out very soon! ------------- 1st round IVF 7 Eggs, 6 fertilised, 1 transferred with 5 on ice! http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: meganflett
Date Posted: 24 February 2011 at 4:31pm
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No forms here yet! Am i supposed to just keep waiting and seeing or do i need to ask for them ? no idea -------------
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Posted By: Whateversville
Date Posted: 24 February 2011 at 5:40pm
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We don't have our forms yet either. And I'll probably do them online
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Posted By: jazzy
Date Posted: 24 February 2011 at 6:40pm
that is what they have been saying but others have said it will through off the previous years ones if they do that. It will be quite interesting years down the track when they look back at this "snap shot" one. They are not done till the 8th of March & the guy that delivered ours said when they pick up they will try 3 times if not don't online so I guess the same goes for delivery & many would deliver in the weekend. You get a Internet Access code so you can do it online. You can call them on 0800 236 787
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Posted By: happymum21
Date Posted: 24 February 2011 at 9:14pm
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Don't panic if you haven't got yours yet, census date is not til the 8 March and all people should have forms by midday 8 March. However, at this stage all deliveries have been suspended until further notice. If I hear anything further I'll update you all on here ------------- Becs |
Posted By: fallen
Date Posted: 25 February 2011 at 10:11am
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On the news this morning its been cancelled for the time being. Sounds like a good plan considering whats happened. ------------- |
Posted By: shadowfeet
Date Posted: 25 February 2011 at 11:59am
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http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10708648 - http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10708648 The only real solution for now I think. News of cancellation -------------
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Posted By: Hopes
Date Posted: 25 February 2011 at 12:04pm
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Yea... it wouldn't have been very accurate to miss Christchurch out, and I don't know how they could have realistically included Christchurch. Such a shame that they have to waste all the money they've spent so far, but I'm not sure what else they could have done... -------------
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Posted By: jazzy
Date Posted: 25 February 2011 at 12:22pm
| wow did not realise how much it cost....A census costs $90 million over five years and $42 million had so far been spent on the the one that has now been cancelled....according to the NZ Herald.. |
Posted By: amme_eilyk
Date Posted: 25 February 2011 at 2:54pm
| I hope all of you NZ census employees are going to get paid anyway so you won't lose out due to the cancellation. |
Posted By: MamaT
Date Posted: 25 February 2011 at 3:37pm
I agree, I thought of you Minik8e (and any others) when they announced this. -------------
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Posted By: jaycee
Date Posted: 25 February 2011 at 6:02pm
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I heard on the radio that the Govt WILL honour its contracts with the collectors, so they should all be OK -------------
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Posted By: My3Sons
Date Posted: 25 February 2011 at 6:49pm
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that is good news! ------------- Mum to Mr 10, Mr 6 and Mr 4
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Posted By: newme
Date Posted: 25 February 2011 at 7:38pm
| Lucky I love to fill out forms! I had already filled out our households online, so guess I will get to go it all again whenever it does happen next! |
Posted By: jazzy
Date Posted: 25 February 2011 at 7:58pm
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The Statistics building is in CHCH & was damaged in the earthquake.
Here is a like to the pay http://www.stats.govt.nz/about_us/earthquake/collector-pay-media-release.aspx - pay so that's good all the people will be paid. |
Posted By: rachelsea
Date Posted: 25 February 2011 at 8:37pm
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I still haven't received any forms so guess we won't be getting them at all now! Mind you we never get election forms either, must be the forgotten suburb... Glad the people still get paid!! ------------- DD 4yrs DS 2yrs http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: _SMS_
Date Posted: 25 February 2011 at 9:14pm
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Im glad its canceled also. Wish i hadnt just filled in my tonne of forms first though -------------  
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