As you all know, the Census is being done primarily online this time round. With the access codes being sent by snail mail. There doesn't appear to be any system to identify households that can't be reached by post, or who don't have a postal address on that database of valid addresses that NZ post (and Google - I think) run.

In the previous Census, the person who dropped off and collected the forms, asked me if there were any other households or dwellings on my property. But now unofficial dwellings, such as: houses split into multiple units by dodgy landlords, People living in garages, tents, caravans. People who are residing in commercial or industrial properties, farm outbuildings, houses that are in the process of being built - especially part of a subdivision where title hasn't yet been issued for the property. People who have parked a caravan or small cabin on land that is recorded as being vacant. And of course people who live in a vehicle - whether an old car, or expensive house bus.

What about properties that are not on a postal delivery route, or which are only accessible by boat?

And the big reason why the above is important - It is highly likely that the total number of houses recorded by this Census will be less than what it otherwise would have been. This in turn could be used as political capital by Labour, to say that very few new houses were built while National was in power.

Although in turn, the houses missed out would be more likely to be poorer households. So National could potentially claim a larger reduction in poverty than what it otherwise could of.

Thoughts? As it seems very bad that Census results could be manipulated for political gain. Even if the changes were only coincidental.