New Zealand Statistical Association 2024 Conference

Amanda O'Connell and James Maguire

Stats NZ

Methodology for Māori descent in the 2023 Census

This is joint work with Tieta Vesty, Meenu Jose, Pip Bennett, Roimata Timutimu

The Māori descent variables created in the census are some of our highest priority outputs. They help to inform decisions that affect iwi and Māori, to support the aspirations of iwi and Māori, and to calculate the Māori electoral populations. Because of its importance, all usual residents counted in the census need to have a Māori descent value - but not everyone responds. Stats NZ has worked in partnership with Te Kāhui Raraunga Charitable Trust, under the Mana Ōrite Relationship Agreement (MŌRA), to develop a method which accounts for these missing responses. We start with 2023 Census responses and fill in the gaps using historical census data, data collected by other government agencies, parental values and statistical imputation. Using these additional sources has helped us produce quality Māori descent outputs for our users.

The method used for Māori descent was developed alongside the method used for Iwi affiliation in the 2023 Census, which will be discussed in the presentation "Methodology for iwi affiliation in the 2023 Census" by Walter Somerville and James Maguire.