Ed Said - Who and what are we?

 

Fewer New Zealanders than expected completed this years census after the process was moved online, Stats NZ has revealed. Government statistician Liz MacPherson said more than 82 percent of responses were online, which surpassed its 70 percent target, but overall information covered 90 percent of people, compared with 94.5 percent during the last census in 2013.

The rules don’t say it’s compulsory to fill out a form, it says it’s required by law. Is there a point to this?

We have all our info revealed and recorded in applying for a drivers licence right from a birth certificate to official identification. The same is required when buying property. Is there no database for this information which also includes ethnicity, religion, court appearances, licence cancellations, misdemeanours and prison time? Surely this info can be cross-referenced. Consider all the personal information that’s revealed on Facebook, Twitter and even Tinder where people reveal their innermost and personal details and opinions freely to the world. 

Why do we need a census? Do all the thousands of new immigrants fill in the forms? Do they even understand what its all about? (Not sure I do). We are told our population is growing by x number per year (those coming to stay minus those leaving permanently) so, with the benefit of simple arithmetic, why is a census even necessary? 

Earnings, where we live, number of children, migratory habits within the country, all can change many times in five years depending on circumstances. It doesn’t seem to matter when one Government is going to make easier access to the north with a four-lane highway and another Government scraps the idea regardless of the human situation. If we have trouble with our Census, imagine the fiasco in India or China and just how accurate or inaccurate it may be. In the end does the result change anything? It doesn’t because it gives information as the past but can realistically give no indication at all what the pattern may be for the future. 

I was recently sent an order to attend jury service. Those over 70 years of age don’t have to attend. I didn’t respond. I was sent another letter telling me of my legal obligations and if I didn’t respond I could be fined $1000 and maybe imprisoned. Again I didn’t respond until I was given another warning. I phoned the 0800 number in (I believe) Wellington reminding him they have my drivers licence on record giving my full name, address, sex, date of birth, eye colour, photo and thus know my age and I am not obliged to attend so why even bother sending it to me. He could see my point and would henceforth cross me off their list. 

I’m amused when our demographers come up with some of these statistics – such as people with hazel eyes that are left-handed will find it 18.6 percent harder to give up smoking. We are in the midst of the information age. Basically that’s great, so long as those disseminating said information know what to keep and know what to throw away.

Just my thoughts.
Rob