Kua waitohutia e Tatauranga Aotearoa tētahi kirimana ki Te Iwi o Ngātiwai hei tautoko i Tatauranga 2023 is this story in te reo Māori.
A memorandum of understanding aimed at raising participation levels among Northland's Ngātiwai iwi in the 2023 Census has been signed in Whangārei, Stats NZ said today.
The memorandum of understanding was signed by Te Iwi o Ngātiwai and Government Statistician Mark Sowden on behalf of Stats NZ at a special ceremony at Whangārei Terenga Parāoa Marae hosted by Te Poari o Ngātiwai on Wednesday, 7 December.
"Today marks a significant step for both parties. This memorandum of understanding outlines our commitment to supporting you to enable and encourage the participation of Te Iwi o Ngātiwai in the 2023 Census.
"Your support will not only help build trust and confidence in the census; it will help lift response rates among Māori. There is no doubt that we could not do this without you," Sowden said.
Chair of Te Poari o Ngātiwai (Ngātiwai Trust Board), Aperahama Kerepeti-Edwards also welcomed the agreement.
"The relationship agreement will provide resource to Te Iwi o Ngātiwai to lead our census campaign to promote participation and completion. It will also support development of iwi capacity in data management and understanding," Kerepeti-Edwards said.
Stats NZ recognises Te Tiriti o Waitangi as a founding document of Aotearoa New Zealand and is committed to honouring our Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations. In October 2019, Stats NZ and the Data Iwi Leaders Group of the National Iwi Chairs Forum signed the Mana Ōrite Relationship Agreement.
"Delivering for and with Māori, iwi, and hapū is a strategic priority for Stats NZ. We have commenced a journey to establish enduring relationships with iwi and Māori that enable you to fully participate in the data ecosystem as partners, collaborators, designers, decision makers, and customers," Sowden said.
The Census Community Engagement team will work with Te Iwi o Ngātiwai to promote the census to whānau through community events and engagement in Te Tai Tokerau, with promotional materials in te reo Māori and locations where people can find the support they need to complete the census.
Iwi, hapū, community groups, local government and central government rely on good quality data to inform and meet the needs of communities across the country.
