We may have a census after all

The Post reports:

A law change that would do away with the traditional five-year census in favour of cheaper annual surveys is unlikely to progress this side of the election, following opposition from the Labour Party.

The hiatus raises questions over how Stats NZ will be able to comply with the law, given it has indicated it would then be too late to conduct the census the normal way in 2028. …

However, because the census can help determine electoral boundaries, it is protected by an “entrenchment” clause that would require three-quarters of MPs approve a change, rather than the usual simple parliamentary majority.

Labour and the Greens made clear in a select committee report last week that they would not back the amendment bill.

I am far from convinced that the answer to Stats NZ struggling to do a comprehensive census is to scrap the census, rather than improve Stats NZ.