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News

Today six new activities, suitable to be used immediately in class, have been released on the CensusAtSchool New Zealand website.

These activities, some developed by internationally renowned statistics education researcher Maxine Pfannkuch, have already been trialled in classrooms.

They are:

All resources clearly follow the Statistical Investigation cycle which is part of the new Mathematics and Statistics curriculum and illustrated on the Data Detective Poster.

More than 10,000 Year 5-13 students from all over New Zealand have taken part so far in this year’s educational and fun CensusAtSchool online survey.

The project gives students access to a rich and comprehensive snapshot of their generation which they can explore and make exciting discoveries about in the classroom. CensusAtSchool has previously been run in 2003 and 2005 and this latest snapshot will also enable children to compare themselves with data from the last two surveys.

A sneak peek at a few of the results so far show that 48% of students taking part have a Bebo page and 46% have a TV in their bedroom.

The Top 10 favourite websites so far for boys taking part are:

1. Bebo
2. YouTube
3. Google
4. Miniclip
5. RuneScape
6. TradeMe
7. AddictingGames
8. WWE
9. PokemonCrater
10. ClubPenguin

The Top 10 favourite websites so far for girls taking part are:

1. Bebo
2. Google
3. YouTube
4. Miniclip
5. Stardoll
6. Neopets
7. ClubPenguin
8. Disney
9. TradeMe
10. MSN

CensusAtSchool is part of an international effort to boost statistical capability among young people, and is also conducted in the UK, Australia, Canada and South Africa. CensusAtSchool started in Maths Week and runs from 13 August until 30 September. The project is sponsored by the Ministry of Education, Statistics New Zealand and the Department of Statistics of the University of Auckland. Over 1,700 teachers have registered their classes to take part.

Further results and classroom resources are made available through this website.

Over 1,000 students took part in the first day of CensusAtSchool today!

A quick peek at some of the results so far show that 52% of students taking part have a Bebo page and 41% have a TV in their bedroom.

The Top 3 favourite websites so far are:
Boys: Bebo, YouTube and Miniclip
Girls: Bebo, Google and Stardoll

The average length of hair so far is approximately:
30cm for girls
7cm for boys

What do Kiwi children think is the best thing about living in New Zealand? What would they do to make it a better place to live? What do they do online? How much are they spending on their cell phones? What do they eat for breakfast? What time do they go to bed? These questions and more are posed in the popular CensusAtSchool, and the results promise a unique insight into what New Zealand’s 10 to 18 year olds are thinking, feeling and doing.

Starting 13 August, tens of thousands of children from all around New Zealand will stand up and be counted in CensusAtSchool – their own on-line children’s census sponsored by the Ministry of Education, Statistics New Zealand and the Department of Statistics of the University of Auckland.

“CensusAtSchool is about children for children,” says Malcolm Hyland of the Ministry of Education. “It is a launching pad for emerging educational efforts aimed at turning generations of students into data detectives – equipped with the tools and inclinations that will enable them to continue to make exciting and useful discoveries about their world throughout their lives and careers.”

Project spokesperson and co-director Rachel Cunliffe of the University of Auckland says: “This will be the most comprehensive snapshot to date of how New Zealand students are living their lives. The CensusAtSchool database will enable children to learn about data collection, information technology and how to make sense of data in a playground where they will continually make exciting discoveries about themselves.”

CensusAtSchool has previously been run in 2003 and 2005 and this latest snapshot will enable children to compare themselves with data from the last two surveys.

CensusAtSchool is part of an international effort to boost statistical capability among young people, and is also conducted in the UK, Australia, Canada and South Africa. CensusAtSchool starts in Maths Week and runs from 13 August until 30 September.

More than 1,150 teachers have already registers their classes to take part with more signing up daily.

CensusAtSchool is running again this year, launching in Maths Week (13-17 August 2007).

Please register your classes and we’ll let you know more information closer to the time.

In the meantime, we’d love to know if you have any fun or interesting ideas for questions in this year’s survey. In particular any ideas for continuous variables would be appreciated.

Please add your ideas as soon as possible and preferably over the next week!

Northland region:

Aranga School, Okaihau College, Springbank School, Dargaville High School, Dargaville Intermediate, Broadwood Area School, Northland College, Oromahoe School, Kaingaroa School, Ngataki School, Oturu School, Pukenui School, Bay of Islands College, Taipa Area School, Hikurangi School, Opua School, Paihia School, One Tree Point School, Ruawai College, Umawera School, Hora Hora School, Hukerenui School, Hurupaki School, Kamo High School, Kokopu School, Maunu School, Onerahi School, Pompallier Catholic College, Poroti School, Tikipunga High School, Tikipunga Primary School, Totara Grove School, Whangarei Boys’ High School, Whangarei Heads School

Auckland region:

ACG Senior College, ACG Strathallan, Albany Junior High School, Albany School, Alfriston College, Al-Madinah School, Ambury Park Centre for Riding Therapy, Anchorage Park School, AppleTree Education Centre, Arahoe School, Auckland Girls’ Grammar School, Auckland Normal Intermediate, Avondale College, Avondale Intermediate, Bailey Road School, Balmoral School, Baradene College, Baverstock Oaks School, Bayswater School, Beachlands School, Birkdale Primary School, Birkenhead College, Blockhouse Bay Intermediate, Blockhouse Bay School, Botany Downs School, Botany Downs Secondary College, Browns Bay School, Bruce McLaren Intermediate, Campbells Bay School, Carey College, Carmel College, Clendon Park School, Clevedon School, Clover Park Middle School, Colwill School, Cornwall Park School, Corran School, Diocesan School For Girls, Dominion Road School, Edgewater College, Elim Christian College, Epsom Girls’ Grammar School, Farm Cove Intermediate, Flat Bush School, Gladstone School, Glendowie College, Glenfield College, Glenfield Intermediate, Green Bay Primary School, Greenmeadows Intermediate, Gulf Harbour School, Hebron Christian College, Henderson Valley School, Holy Cross School, Howick College, Howick Intermediate, Huapai District School, Immanuel Christian School, Jean Batten School, Kadimah College, Kedgley Intermediate, Kelston Girls’ College, Kelston School, Kohia Terrace School, Kohimarama School, Kowhai Intermediate, Kristin School, Lincoln Heights School, Lynfield College, Macleans College, Mangere Bridge School, Mangere College, Manurewa High School, Manurewa South School, Marcellin College, Marina View School, Marist College, Massey High School, May Road School, Michael Park School, Milford School, Monte Cecilia School, Mt Albert School, Mt Eden Normal School, Mt Richmond School, Mt Roskill Intermediate, Murrays Bay Intermediate, Murrays Bay School, New Lynn School, Odyssey House School (Auckland), Okiwi School, Onehunga High School, Onehunga Primary School, Onepoto School, Oranga School, Orere School, Orewa College, Orewa North School, Orewa School, Otahuhu College, Oteha Valley School, Owairaka District School, Pakuranga College, Pakuranga Intermediate, Papakura High School, Papakura Normal School, Papatoetoe High School, Papatoetoe Intermediate, Papatoetoe North School, Papatoetoe West School, Park Estate School, Parnell School, Pinehill School, Point View School, Pukekohe High School, Pukekohe Intermediate, Pukekohe North School, Rangeview Intermediate, Rangitoto College, Remuera Intermediate, Richmond Road School, Rosehill College, Rosehill School, Rosmini College, Royal Oak Intermediate School, Royal Oak School, Royal Road School, Rutherford College, Sacred Heart College (Auckland), Sancta Maria College, Sandspit Road School, Selwyn College, Sherwood School (Auckland), Silverdale School, Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate Middle Sch, Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate Senior Sch, Southern Cross Campus, St Anne’s School, St Cuthbert’s College, St Dominic’s College, St Dominic’s School, St Heliers School, St Ignatius School, St John’s School, St Joseph’s School, St Joseph’s School, St Kentigern College, St Mary’s School, St Mary’s School, St Mary’s School, St Michael’s School, St Patrick’s School, St Paul’s College, St Paul’s School, Stanhope Road School, Stanmore Bay School, Sunny Hills School, Sutton Park School, Swanson School, Takapuna Grammar School, Takapuna Normal Intermediate, Takapuna School, Tamaki College, Tamaki Intermediate, Tangaroa College, Target Road School, Taupaki School, Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Mangere, The Corelli School, The Gardens School, Tomarata School, Valley School, View Road School, Wairau Intermediate, Waitakere College, Waitakere School, Waitoki School, Waiuku College, Wentworth College, Wesley School, Western Heights School, Western Springs College, Westlake Girls’ High School, Whangaparaoa College, Willowbank School, Willowpark School, Woodhill School

Waikato region:

Cambridge East School, Roto-O-Rangi School, Te Miro School, Whitehall School, Coromandel Learning Centre, Berkley Normal Middle School, Deanwell School, Fairfield College, Fairfield Intermediate, Gordonton School, Hamilton Girls’ High School, Hamilton West School, Hillcrest High School, Hillcrest Normal School, Hukanui School, Koromatua School, Maeroa Intermediate, Melville Intermediate, Pukete School, South City Christian School, St Andrew’s Middle School, St John’s College, Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Whakawatea, Te Rapa School, Vardon School, Waikato Diocesan School For Girls, Woodstock School, Hikuai School, Hinuera School, Huntly College, Matamata Christian School, Morrinsville College, St Paul’s Catholic School, Hauraki Plains College, Miller Avenue School, Paeroa College, Piopio College, Piopio Primary School, Puahue School, Pukeatua School, Putaruru Primary School, St Mary’s Catholic School, Raglan Area School, Waitetuna School, Nga Taiatea Wharekura, Ngakuru School, Taupo Intermediate, Taupo-nui-a-Tia College, Waipahihi School, Elstow-Waihou Combined School, Te Aroha College, Te Aroha Primary School, Bethel Christian School, St Patrick’s Catholic Sch, Pukenui School, Te Kuiti High School, Te Kura o Tahaaroa, Te Uku School, Parawai School, Thames High School, Puriri School, Kuranui Primary School, Tokoroa North School, Tuakau College, Karangahake School, Reporoa College, Pirongia School, Waihi East School, Waikino School, Walton School

Bay of Plenty region:

Katikati College, Katikati Primary School, Matahui Road School, Kawerau North School, Kawerau South School, Te Kura Kaupapa Motuhake O Tawhiuau, Omokoroa Point School, Ashbrook School, Opotiki College, Te Whanau-A-Apanui Area School, Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Waioweka, Glenholme School, John Paul College, Lynmore Primary School, Malfroy School, Rotorua Lakes High School, Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Ruamata, Westbrook School, Gate Pa School, Otumoetai Intermediate, Pillans Point School, Tauranga Boys’ College, Tauranga Girls’ College, Tauriko School, Te Akau ki Papamoa Primary School, Whakamarama School, Pukehina School, James Street School, Ohope Beach School, St Joseph’s Catholic School , Whakatane Intermediate

Gisborne region:

Awapuni School, Cobham School, Gisborne Central School, Gisborne Girls’ High School, Gisborne Intermediate, Ilminster Intermediate, Te Hapara School, Te Wharau School, Matawai School, Motu School, Ngata Memorial College, Te Waha O Rerekohu Area School, Tiniroto School, Tolaga Bay Area School

Hawkes Bay region:

Ongaonga School, Ebbett Park School, Hastings Christian School, Karamu High School, Kimi Ora Community School, Mahora School, St Joseph’s School, St Mary’s School, St Matthew’s Primary School, Taikura Rudolf Steiner School, Bridge Pa School, Kereru School, Havelock North High School, Havelock North Intermediate, Havelock North Primary School, Lucknow School, Waimarama School, Puketapu School, Napier Girls’ High School, Port Ahuriri School, Puketitiri School, Sacred Heart College, Taradale High School, William Colenso College, Argyll East School, Porangahau School, Te Aute College, Sherwood School, Oueroa School, Waipukurau School, Frasertown School, St Joseph’s School, Tiaho Primary School, Whangarei Heads School

Taranaki region:

Eltham School, Hawera Intermediate, Ohangai School, Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Ngati Ruanui, Egmont Village School, St Patrick’s School, Manaia School , Spotswood College, Te Pi’ipi’inga Kakano Mai Rangiatea, Welbourn School, Westown School, St Joseph’s School, Auroa School, Ngaere School, Toko School, Rahotu School, Oakura School, Waitara High School

Manawatu-Wanganui region:

St Joseph’s School, Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Tamaki Nui A Rua, Manchester Street School, Fordell School, Fairfield School, Levin Intermediate, Tangimoana School, Kairanga School, Taonui School, Waituna West School, Mangaweka School, Marton School, Rangitikei College, Wellington Diocesan School For Girls, Matiere School, Aokautere School, Awatapu College, Freyberg High School, Glen Oroua School, Hokowhitu School, Opiki School, Palmerston North Boys’ High School, Palmerston North Girls’ High School, Palmerston North Intermediate, Parkland School, Queen Elizabeth College, Ross Intermediate, St James School, St Peter’s College, Orautoha School, Papanui Junction School, Taumarunui Primary School, Tiritea School, Aberfeldy School, Cullinane College, St George’s Preparatory School, Wanganui Collegiate School, Wanganui Girls’ College, Wanganui Intermediate, Papatawa School

Wellington region:

Dalefield School, Gladstone School , Arakura School, Avalon Intermediate, Belmont School , Boulcott School, Fernlea School, Gracefield School, Hutt Intermediate, Hutt Valley High School, Maungaraki School, Raphael House Rudolf Steiner Area School, Sacred Heart College , Sacred Heart School, St Bernard’s College, St Oran’s College, Sts Peter and Paul School , Tawhai School, Wainuiomata High School, Hadlow Preparatory School, Solway College, Wairarapa College, Mauriceville School, Whareama School, Otaki School, Paekakariki School, St Patrick’s School, Kenakena School, Plimmerton School, St Theresa’s School , Aotea College, Bishop Viard College, Mana College, Papakowhai School, Porirua College, Samuel Marsden Collegiate School, Rangikura School, Tairangi School, Raumati South School, Featherston School, South Featherston School, Tuturumuri School, Heretaunga College, Hutt International Boys’ School, Maidstone Intermediate, Silverstream School, St Brendan’s School, Titiro Whakamua, Totara Park School, Trentham School, Upper Hutt College, Kapanui School, Waikanae School, Brooklyn School, Cashmere Avenue School, Churton Park School, Holy Cross School , Houghton Valley School, Island Bay School, Makara Model School, Miramar Central School, Miramar Christian School, Ngaio School, Northland School, Queen Margaret College, Raroa Normal Intermediate, Redwood School , Ridgway School, Rongotai College, Samuel Marsden Collegiate School, Scots College, St Anthony’s School , St Benedict’s School , St Patrick’s College , Tawa College, Tawa Intermediate, Thorndon School, Wadestown School, Wellington College, Wellington Girls’ College, Wellington High School, Worser Bay School

Marlborough region:

Marlborough Girls’ College, Redwoodtown School, St Mary’s School, Whitney Street School, Riverlands School, Waitaria Bay School, Queen Charlotte College

Nelson/Tasman region:

Auckland Point School, Broadgreen Intermediate, Garin College, Maitai School, Nayland Primary School, Nelson College, Stoke School, Motueka South School, Brightwater School, St Paul’s School, Tasman Bay Christian School, Waimea College, Waimea Intermediate, Appleby School, Lower Moutere School, Tasman School

West Coast region:

Fox Glacier School, John Paul II High School, Karoro School, St Patrick’s School, Hokitika School, St Mary’s School, Westland High School, Franz Josef Glacier School, Buller High School, Westport South School

Canterbury region:

St Joseph’s School, Tinwald School, Dorie School, Belfast School, Aranui School, Avonhead School, Avonside Girls’ High School, Beckenham School, Burnside High School, Burnside Primary School, Burwood School, Cashmere Primary School, Christ The King School, Christchurch Adventist School, Christchurch Girls’ High School, Christchurch South Intermediate, Christ’s College, Cobham Intermediate, Discovery One School, Elmwood Normal School, Fendalton Open Air School, Glenelg Health Camp School, Hillmorton High School, Hillview Christian School, Hoon Hay School, Ilam School, Kirkwood Intermediate, Ladbrooks School, Linwood College, Linwood Intermediate, Marian College, Middleton Grange School, Mt Pleasant School, New Brighton Catholic School, Papanui High School, Paparoa Street School, Riccarton High School, Rowley Avenue School, Russley School, Sacred Heart School, Selwyn House School, Shirley Boys’ High School, Shirley Intermediate, Somerfield School, St Andrew’s College, St Bedes College, St Margaret’s College, St Mark’s School, St Patrick’s School, St Paul’s School , Unlimited Paenga Tawhiti, Van Asch Deaf Education Centre, Villa Maria College, Wainoni School, Windsor School, Freeville School, Amuri Area School, Diamond Harbour School, Mackenzie College, Geraldine High School, Hurunui College, Kaiapoi Borough School, Kaiapoi High School, Tuahiwi School, Kaikoura High School, Kaikoura Suburban School, St Joseph’s School, Ellesmere College, Little River School, Lyttelton Main School, Oxford Area School, Pleasant Point Primary School, Prebbleton School, Rangiora Borough School, Southbrook School, Broadfield School, West Melton School, Southbridge School, Opihi College, St Joseph’s School, Craighead Diocesan School, Gleniti School, Highfield School, Roncalli College, Sacred Heart School , St Andrew’s School, St Joseph’s School, Timaru Boys’ High School, Timaru Christian School, Beaconsfield School, Twizel Area School, Ashley School, North Loburn School, Glenavy School, St Patrick’s School, Waimate High School

Otago region:

Alexandra School, Dunstan High School, St Gerard’s School , The Terrace School , Totara School, South Otago High School, Clinton School, Romahapa School, Goldfields School, Bayfield High School, Calton Hill School, Caversham School, Columba College, Dunedin North Intermediate, George Street Normal School, Kaikorai Valley College, Kings High School , Macandrew Intermediate, Musselburgh School, Otago Girls’ High School, Queens High School, St Bernadette’s School, St Brigids School , St Leonard’s School, St Patrick’s School, St Peter Chanel School, Waldronville School, Lawrence Area School, Strath Taieri School, Millers Flat School, St Mary’s School, Tokomairiro High School, Ardgowan School, Oamaru Intermediate, Waitaki Boys’ High School, Waitaki Girls’ High School, The Catlins Area School, Glenorchy School, St Joseph’s School, Maniototo Area School, Roxburgh Area School, Tarras School, Waikouaiti School, Five Forks School, Maheno School, Papakaio School, Mt Aspiring College, Heriot School

Southland region:

East Gore School, Longford Intermediate, Ascot Community School, Aurora College, Makarewa School, Sacred Heart School , Southland Girls’ High School, St Patrick’s School, Te Wharekura O Arowhenua, Waihopai School, Windsor North School, Limehills School, Northern Southland College, Otautau School, Riverton School, Riversdale School, Lochiel School, Rimu School, Tuturau Primary School, Waianiwa School, Fiordland College, Mararoa School, Wallacetown School, Central Southland College, St Thomas School, Menzies College

Chatham Islands county:

Pitt Island School

And many more home school and correspondence school students…

Meet Jessica, Jessica is fictional, but according to the most frequent responses from the 2005 CensusAtSchool survey Jessica starts the day with toast and a glass of milk for breakfast. She lives in Auckland and shares the house with three other people. Surprisingly, it takes Jessica less than 10 minutes to get to school by car. Jessica knows what she wants for Christmas, even more than money or an Ipod, she wants to upgrade her cell phone. She is 13 years old and currently in Year 9 at school. She brings her lunch from home and plays netball. There is much more of interest about Jessica, but telling you now would spoil all the surprises.
About CensusAtSchool:

CensusAtSchool is an online survey for Year 5 to Year 10 students that provides real, relevant data to enhance statistical enquiry across the curriculum. CensusAtSchool NZ is hosted by the Department of Statistics at the University of Auckland in association with Statistics New Zealand and the Ministry of Education. It is a non-profit, educationally motivated project.

Schools take part voluntarily, with students completing the survey during lesson time, and then submitting their data to contribute to an international database, which includes information on children from Australia, England, Canada and South Africa. Some questions are in common with the other countries, to provide comparisons between countries, while the remainder of the questions are tailored to reflect the interests of New Zealand children. Data and classroom resources are now available for schools. More resources are currently being developed by a team of maths teachers.
A selection of CensusAtSchool survey results:
Respondents

33,000 students took the opportunity to stand up and be counted in this years online survey, an increase of more than 15,000 from CensusAtSchool 2003. Over 2,000 teachers registered their classes nationwide.

Tables summarising participation follow:

Age No. of Respondents
6 11
7 17
8 98
9 2379
10 4525
11 4928
12 5511
13 6744
14 6675
15 2201
16 81
17 35
Region No. of Respondents
Northland Region 828
Auckland Region 13889
Waikato Region 3463
Bay of Plenty Region 1326
Manawatu-Wanganui Region 1682
Taranaki Region 501
Gisborne Region 294
Hawkes Bay Region 719
Wellington Region 4018
Nelson-Marlborough Region 734
West Coast Region 215
Canterbury Region 3027
Otago Region 1917
Southland Region 592

Technology

In the last two years cell phone ownership has increased dramatically more than doubling for 9 -10 year-olds. By age 14, a massive 84% of the children surveyed have their own cell phones

Phone ownership by age

Age 2003 2005 Percent Increase
9 10% 22% 120%
10 13% 29% 123%
11 23% 44% 91%
12 33% 59% 79%
13 51% 76% 49%
14 59% 84% 42%

RSI by 15?

70% of respondents who owned a cell phone sent text messages the previous day, with almost a quarter of them sending over 50. The median monthly expenditure was $20 with 1 in 5 spending over $50. Almost half the children have their own TV and just over a quarter have their own MP3 player. Levels of access to the internet however do not appear to have changed over the past 2 years.

Lifestyle

Students were asked about many aspects of their daily life, and many interesting facts came to light.

There are big changes in lunch time activity levels as children advance through the school system. At Year 5, 80% report their main lunchtime activity as running around and playing. This drops to around 60% at intermediate school age and plunges to a little over 20% in high school. By Year 10 the main “activity” is either sitting or standing around. Overall, 40% of students are driven to school by car while only 1 in 4 walked. A further quarter took public transport.

Despite widespread worries about dietary changes feeding an obesity epidemic some traditional patterns still seem to be maintained. For example, the vast majority of the children still bring their lunches from home 88% at Year 5 dropping to 69% by Year 10. Bought lunches increase from 9% at Year 5 to 20% by Year 10. Whereas only 1% of the Year 5 children have no lunch, by the second year of high school 7% did not have a lunch.

Parents wondering when to send their children to bed will not get much guidance from the practices of their peers. There is a wide range of bedtimes which change only slowly with age.

The most common bedtimes are:
8pm – 9pm for 9 and 10 year olds
9pm – 10pm for 11 and 12 year olds
10pm – 11pm for 13 -15 year olds

The 10 most popular Christmas present requests were:

Girls:

1. Cell phone
2. Ipod
3. Money
4. Clothes
5. Dog
6. Car
7. Laptop
8. Horse
9. MP3 player
10. Book

Boys:

1. Money
2. Cell phone
3. Motorbike or quad-bike
4. Car
5. Playstation portable
6. Computer
7. Ipod
8. Bike
9. Playstation 2 console
10. Computer game for PS2

Data now available

Random samples from the data are available through the interactive sampler.

Data is now available for the Are you a masterpiece? resource.

Five fixed samples are available for the resource. Download the appropriate sample for the level you are teaching.

All are in CSV (Comma Separated Value) format which can be opened in Microsoft Excel, Fathom, or with other standard software.

Level English Māori
3 – 4 Sample A
Sample B
Sample A
Sample B
4 – 5 Sample A
Sample B
Sample A
Sample B
5 – 7 Sample Sample

An interactive sampler has been available since September.

An Excel spreadsheet covering age, gender, time taken to travel to school, and mode of transport can be downloaded (5MB).

Launch photos

On the morning of Tuesday 16 August, actor Shane Cortese, best known for his performances on Dancing with the Stars and Shortland Street, took part in the televised launch of CensusAtSchool NZ.

Students at St Mary’s School in Northcote were excited to meet Shane Cortese and hear what he had to say.

Shane Cortese with students and Bronwyn Weston
Shane Cortese talking with students

Shane Cortese sitting with students
Shane Cortese sitting with students

Rachel Cunliffe on Breakfast
Rachel Cunliffe talking live on Breakfast

Shane Cortese with students at St Mary's (Northcote)
Class photo, with Shane Cortese and Rachel Cunliffe

Jason Florence, Rachel Cunliffe, Bronwyn Weston, and Shane Cortese
Shane with part of the CensusAtSchool NZ team
Left to right: Jason Florence, resource writer; Rachel Cunliffe, co-director of CensusAtSchool; Bronwyn Weston, resource writer; Shane Cortese
Background: Principal of St Mary’s School Northcote and Teacher Bronya Scott

All photos by Godfrey Boehnke, The University of Auckland.

With the next population census only six months away, more than 950 New Zealand schools are taking the lead with their own census project.

CensusAtSchool New Zealand is a joint undertaking by Statistics New Zealand, the University of Auckland and the Ministry of Education. The month-long project, which kicks off at the start of Maths Week on 15 August, will involve more than 1,500 teachers around New Zealand working with students in Years 5 to 10.

Now in its third year, CensusAtSchool is part of an international initiative involving students from Canada, Australia, South Africa and Great Britain in collecting data that is relevant to their lives.

The data collected by New Zealand students will be added to an international database, providing opportunities for students to compare themselves with other students in New Zealand and in participating countries overseas. By using real information about themselves, students are more likely to engage with statistics enthusiastically. They will also be primed for the 2006 Census of Population and Dwellings.

Government Statistician Brian Pink said, “This is a great undertaking by New Zealand students, and we are delighted to support a project that generates enthusiasm and learning about the value of good statistics in the lead-up to our national census in March 2006.” .Auckland schools are currently the leading participants in the project, with more than 40 percent of all schools in the Auckland region enrolled.

The New Zealand project organisers are looking to extend the project for a further year by developing teaching resources based on the data the students have collected. For more information or to enrol in CensusAtSchool, visit www.stats.govt.nz.

Brian Pink
Government Statistician