95bFM 2023 Census to collect data about gender identity and sexuality
November 23, 2022
Interview by Spike Keith, adapted by Stella Huggins
Photo: Canva.
The 2023 Census will include questions about gender and sexuality for the first time in Aotearoa’s history.
On 95bFM's The Wire, Jason Attewell from Stats NZ confirmed the census will ask about an individual’s assigned sex at birth, what gender an individual identifies, and sexual identity.
"It is exciting to be collecting this data. We are going to be reflecting the diversity of Aotearoa, and it can be used for services and areas of need.”
The public service department has been working with different entities to create appropriate questions that accurately and sensitively capture the data they need.
This includes an external advisory group comprised of members from the LGBTQIA+ community and Intersex Aotearoa, an intersex-led non-profit organisation.
While it will be the first time a census has collected this information, other projects have already been establishing a picture of the community in Aotearoa.
These questions have been used in the Household Economic Survey, and similar questions were used in the General Social Survey, which collects information about well-being.
Stats NZ is also making a concerted effort to protect the privacy of respondents, at an individual and analytical level.
Attewell stressed that Stats NZ "want to make sure it’s safe for people to answer these questions”.
When the data is collected, it will be aggregated, so no published material will have any identifying factors.
The census is available online and in physical form. Those who may be concerned about filling physical out forms that household members could have access to can do their census on a device and submit it themselves.
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