Tautoko Network – Ethnic, former refugee and migrant researchers

Join us to share whakaaro and kōrero (thoughts and discussion) about the modernising of the Census – strengths, challenges and opportunities – and responses to the call for submissions by StatsNZ regarding its proposed content and data collection approach. The new admin-data-first census model has three elements: Use of administrative data, a new annual sample survey (Census Attribute Survey), and tailored solutions.

The aim of this awheawhe is to identify key/common features that can be included in a submission about the StatsNZ Modernising the census approach and how it can meet the needs of ethnically diverse communities. We will start with some preliminary draft statements to build upon and iterate. Following this awheawhe – we will soundboard the outcomes of the session with experts in this space to evolve the template paragraphs. The outcomes of this mahi will then be generally shared as a resource for submission makers and will also contribute to the submission that will be made by Community Research.

Submissions to StatsNZ must be provided through their web portal and close 5:00pm on Friday 19 December 2025.

Resources

StatsNZ information session slides: Census Customer Information session – Public consultation

StatsNZ paper on quality of ethnicity data in the experimental administrative population census:https://www.stats.govt.nz/research/quality-of-ethnicity-data-in-the-experimental-administrative-pop…

StatsNZ experimental administrative population census output: https://www.stats.govt.nz/experimental/experimental-administrative-population-census/

PIE commentary by Len Cook – What the public needs to know about the decision to stop the five-yearly census:

What is an ethnic, former refugee, and migrant researchers online Tautoko session?
Ethnic, former refugee, and migrant researcher Tautoko sessions provide a dynamic informal space that fosters a collective sense of shared purpose with opportunities to learn from each other, share stories, experiences, research activities, methodologies, challenges, gaps and explore ideas and opportunities.
We celebrate all forms of community-led knowledge-making, whether it’s community-based mahi and mātauranga, or based within organisations, the public service, or academia. If you are developing or an ally of ‘by community for community’ learnings, we value your thoughts and contributions and want you to be part of our research network.

Tautoko sessions:
– are an informal unrecorded safe space for connection, sharing and kōrero
– a space where we recognise our diverse lived experiences, privilege the voices of those who are heard less often (including former refugee and ethnic migrant voices), and acknowledge the distinction and context differences between forced and voluntary migration
– are guided by and contributed to by Tautoko session participants
– prioritise informal kōrero and connection for some sessions and more formal specific topic focused kōrero at others.

After piloting these sessions in 2023 and establishing the format jointly with Tautoko session participants in 2024 – we are really pleased to further evolve this space in 2025. This year, alongside the two-monthly Tautoko sessions, we will set-up and pilot the usefulness of a WhatsApp-based networking platform and associated resources for connection and collaboration.
As we continue this journey together, we can harness the power of collective action and connect to realise the potential it holds for advancing research that address the needs and aspirations of ethnic, refugee and migrant communities in Aotearoa.