New Zealand Earthquake and 2011 Census

[momat]

New Zealand 's 2011 Census is about to be taken on Tuesday 8th March.
With so much devastation in the Canterbury area, how can it be possible to take a Census count when so many people are displaced ?
I wonder if there is some leeway that will allow them to postpone this.

[Alan SHARP]

Greetings Maureen.

As you have probably noted, it has been anounced that the people employed to deliver the NZ census, door to door, in Christchurch City, have been stood down until after the weekend, but the whole idea of a census is to take a snap-shot in time, and all head of dwelling are charged with accounting for those under their roof on a given day AND time.

This census will give vital statistical information re the full displacement of people, and habitation NOT occupied, on that night.

My thoughts - Alan SHARP.

[momat]

Hi Alan,
I was aware of this,

it has been announced that the people employed to deliver the NZ census, door to door, in Christchurch City, have been stood down until after the weekend,

But one has to wonder if those affected are going to be in any state to care with so much else on their minds .
It will certainly be, to use a New Zealand saying "one out of the box".

[Alan SHARP]

Hi all.

This mornings news is indeed bleak.

Confirmed dead in mortuary over 100.

Hospitalizations several hundred.

Unaccounted for [not returned home] several hundred.

Last night when I checked over 17 pages of messages on RootsChat with one poster contributing two editorial pages of his personal experiences.

Thoughts and prayers to all.

Alan SHARP.

[Alan SHARP]

Greetings Maureen.

You were on the button. Too much disruption. It's just been announced by the Minister, that the quake has compromised the fine tuned logistics of getting the household drop completed on time, so the NZ 2011 March census has had to be cancelled. Over 40 million dollars of a 90 million budgeted for, in a five year period, to collect and tabulate written off.

Only previous cancellations were 1931 and 1941.

The Minister also said that Christchurch had more important things to worry about.

Alan SHARP.

[momat]

The Government has just announced that the CENSUS has been CANCELED.