Stats NZ invites expressions of interest to join a new Rainbow Data Advisory Group. The Group will provide an opportunity for people with expertise in data for and about LGBTIQ+ people and communities, as well as lived experience and community connection, to contribute directly to the design and planning of the next census, and initiatives that support its successful delivery.
On this page:
- Skills and experience
- Membership
- Secretariat support
- Remuneration
- Commitment
- Conflicts of interest and privacy
About the Group
Stats NZ invites expressions of interest from people with expertise in data for and about Takatāpui, MVPFAFF+, and LGBTIQ+ people and communities, as well as lived experience and community connection, to join the Rainbow Data Advisory Group.
The Group provides an opportunity to contribute directly to the design, planning, and implementation of the next census, as Stats NZ moves to an admin data-first census model, supplemented by annual surveying and tailored solutions.
The Group will ensure that perspectives from Takatāpui, MVPFAFF+, and LGBTIQ+ communities are reflected in census design decisions, helping ensure census data is relevant, trusted, and delivers value for these communities.
Establishment of the Group is part of Stats NZ's broader approach to establishing community design groups with a range of partners and groups, including iwi Māori, Pacific, disabled, ethnic, rainbow, and homeless and transient communities.
The opportunity
The Group creates a structured and enduring forum for Takatāpui, MVPFAFF+, and LGBTIQ+ expertise to explore, test, and build long-term census design solutions. The group will enable Stats NZ to better deliver to community, customer, and partner needs over time.
This can be done by contributing to design questions on how data is collected, analysed, interpreted, and classified, as well as how it is disseminated and applied.
The census is at a design stage where early and informed input makes the greatest difference. Stakeholders and community members have consistently called for a formalised and enduring advisory mechanism at Stats NZ to contribute to decisions affecting LGBTIQ+ data. The Group responds to that call.
The Group provides a forum to work through complexity, test approaches, and build solutions iteratively - recognising that some changes will require longer-term design and system shifts.
By influencing the data we collect and how it is used, the Group will help ensure official statistics reflect the realities of Takatāpui, MVPFAFF+, and LGBTIQ+ communities.
Role of the Group
The Group will bring together a range of perspectives, lived experience, and technical expertise relevant to census design for Takatāpui, MVPFAFF+, and LGBTIQ+ populations.
The Group will provide advice to Stats NZ on specific census-related design questions, brought to the Group at key stages of the census programme.
Advice from the Group will inform census design decisions across the programme, with relevant matters escalated through appropriate governance settings.
Examples of the kinds of design questions the Group may consider include:
- how gender, sex, variations of sex characteristics, and sexual identity are reflected in census concepts, classifications, and standards
- how census methodologies and use of administrative data affect coverage and data quality for LGBTIQ+ populations
- how transitional or experimental administrative data-based census outputs can be developed safely and responsibly
- how census design choices may impact trust, participation, and use of census data within communities.
The Group is advisory and does not replace broader community engagement or consultation. Its mandate is to provide expert advice on Takatāpui, MVPFAFF+, and LGBTIQ+ communities for Stats NZ to consider when designing the next census.
Stats NZ will provide feedback to the Group on how its advice has been considered and applied.
Many members of the LGBTIQ+ community also belong to other smaller and harder to reach communities. The Group will be formed alongside several other advisory groups for communities, and Stats NZ will work to ensure an intersectional lens is applied across groups for interrelated topics and cross-community priorities.
How to apply
People interested in becoming a member of the Group are invited to submit an expression of interest by Sunday 31 May 2026 - email to [email protected].
Your expression of interest should include:
- a cover letter (maximum two pages) explaining your interest in the Group, and the skills, knowledge, and experience you would bring. We encourage you to include information if you have the support of a particular group or organisation
- a curriculum vitae (maximum four pages)
- the name and contact details for two referees.
If you would like to be considered for chair, please indicate your interest and any relevant experience.
Applications are welcome in alternate formats. Please contact us if you would like to submit your application in an alternate format.
Selection process and indicative timeline
All applications will be assessed against the published criteria , taking into account the balance of skills, lived experience, and perspectives needed across the Group as a whole. Shortlisting will include referee checks.
Final appointments will be confirmed by the Government Statistician and Stats NZ Chief Executive, ensuring the Group has both the right expertise and representation to carry out its role effectively.
- Expressions of interest close: Sunday 31 May 2026.
- Shortlisting and referee checks: June 2026.
- Final appointments confirmed: Late June 2026.
- Induction and first meeting: July 2026.
Information for applicants
Skills and experience
The Group will bring together a balance of lived experience, technical expertise, and community connection.
Members are not expected to have all these skills individually but, collectively, the Group will aim to cover a range of the following perspectives and experience. Due to the technical nature of the questions the Group will be asked to consider, some degree of familiarity with data, statistics, or research is required for all members.
Area |
Description |
Why it matters for the Group |
Statistical and data expertise |
Knowledge of official statistics, survey design and development, research methods, and integrated data systems |
Supports robust, evidence-based input into census design decisions and data quality matters, while also supporting clear interpretation and articulation of findings |
Lived experience |
Direct lived experience and belonging to Takatāpui, MVPFAFF+, and/or LGBTIQ+ communities (including minority sexuality, minority gender, and intersex communities) |
Ensures census design decisions are grounded in real world experiences and reflect community realities |
Community connection and leadership |
Strong connections to Takatāpui, MVPFAFF+, and/or LGBTIQ+ community networks, organisations, or service providers |
Helps ensure advice is grounded in community perspectives and emerging priorities |
LGBTIQ+ research and data experience |
Experience designing, conducting, or analysing research involving Takatāpui, MVPFAFF+, and/or LGBTIQ+ populations, including community-led data collection |
Strengthens advice on census concepts, measures, and interpretation of outputs |
Administrative and integrated data |
Experience working with administrative data, linked datasets, or integrated data systems |
Helps assess risks, opportunities, and limitations of an admin data-first census model |
Takatāpui knowledge and te ao Māori |
Understanding of takatāpui identities, Māori concepts of gender and sexuality, and te ao Māori |
Supports census approaches to appropriately reflect Māori worldviews and uphold Te Tiriti obligations |
MVPFAFF+ and Pacific contexts knowledge |
Knowledge of MVPFAFF+ identities and Pacific cultural and social contexts |
Ensures census design recognises Pacific diversity and cultural realities |
Data ethics and privacy |
Experience or knowledge of data ethics, governance, privacy, or safe data use |
Supports safe and considered census design, particularly when dealing with potentially sensitive personal information |
Policy and system or service design |
Understanding of Crown policy processes, legislative settings, and/or experience in a policy domain of interest for these communities (eg, health, housing, education, etc) |
Helps align Group advice with government decision-making pathways, and helps link census data design to real world use, impact, and decision-making |
Governance and leadership |
Prior board, advisory, or governance experience |
Supports strong group process, accountability, and high-quality collective advice |
Equity and inclusion |
Experience advancing equity for under‑served or marginalised populations. Understanding of intersectionality and compounding effects of multiple marginalised identities |
Ensures census measures and approaches promote inclusive and fair outcomes |
Partnership and collaboration |
Demonstrated ability to work constructively across community, government, and sector boundaries |
Builds trust and effective engagement in a partnership context |
Membership
Up to 12 members, including a chair, will be appointed for an initial term of two or three years, with the option of being reappointed for up to two further two-year terms to support continuity of membership. The term length for each member will be confirmed through the appointment process.
The Group will include people with a mix of research and technical expertise, community connection, service provider experience, government agency experience, and representation across key communities within the broader Takatāpui, MVPFAFF+, and LGBTIQ+ umbrella.
The chair will be confirmed by the Government Statistician and Stats NZ Chief Executive once members have been appointed, with details of that process to be worked through with members at the time. This ensures the chair has both the endorsement of the Group members and the formal recognition required under the Cabinet Fees Framework.
Members will confirm the Group's terms of reference with Stats NZ, ensuring shared ownership of how the Group operates and clarity around its role, responsibilities, and ways of working.
Group values and ways of working will be developed collectively by members.
Secretariat support
The Group will be supported by a secretariat within Stats NZ. Members will receive induction, training, and agenda packs to support their role.
Remuneration
Members will be remunerated in line with the Cabinet Fees Framework. Where members are already funded by Stats NZ in their roles, or by other government agencies, additional fees will not be paid. All members will have reasonable travel and accommodation costs reimbursed.
Commitment
The Group is expected to meet approximately six times per year, using a mix of in-person and online meetings. In-person meetings are likely to be full-day, and online meetings are likely to be half-day.
Members should also allow for preparation time and occasional input between meetings. Non-government members will be remunerated for preparation time and out-of-cycle input.
Conflicts of interest and privacy
Applicants will be asked to disclose actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest. All information will be used only for assessment purposes and held securely by Stats NZ. You have the right to request access to, and correction of, your information.
