Valuation of the New Zealand Census
New Zealand has conducted its census since 1851, providing a vital source of data about the size and demographics of the country's population. In 2014, a valuation of the census was performed. Even though the scope was limited to a select number of quantifiable applications, the study found that over the next 25 years, the census would return to the national economy NZ$5 for every NZ$1 invested. Among its benefits, the census is critical to delivering on different areas of sustainable development. The Ministry of Health uses census data to appropriately allocate local health funds, and an understanding of population growth and demographics informs infrastructure planning. The census is also critical to the ambition to "leave no one behind," particularly in the context of the nation's indigenous Māori community, as census data supports developmental policies, electoral representation, and self-determining agendas. As the census undergoes modification in New Zealand, ensuring the continued quality of these benefits will be vital.
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