12. Question No. 12—StatisticsJAN LOGIE (Green) to the Minister of StatisticsQuestion No. 12—Statistics12. JAN LOGIE (Green) to the Minister of Statistics: What recent developments have there been to ensure the 2023 Census includes questions about sexual orientation and gender identity?Hon JAMES SHAW (Minister of Statistics): I'm delighted to confirm that the rainbow community of Aotearoa New Zealand will be recognised in the next census. Statistics New Zealand has committed to including questions in Census 2023 about sexual orientation and gender identity something that has never happened before. Tomorrow Stats NZ will open a consultation to inform exactly how we collect and report on this data on gender identity but the most important thing to note today is that people in the rainbow community will finally be able to respond to the census in a way that reflects who they are. Jan Logie: Why is it important that the census ask questions about sexual orientation and gender identity? Hon JAMES SHAW: Well New Zealanders want to see themselves reflected in our official data and statistics and policy makers need this information to improve the decisions that they make not least in areas like health spending. Collecting this data means that we can best describe and understand the diversity that we're lucky enough to have here in Aotearoa New Zealand. People in our rainbow communities have been marginalised and ignored for too long and we are fixing that. Census 2023 will be the most inclusive census we've ever had. Jan Logie: How will data about sexual orientation and gender identity support Government decision-making? Hon JAMES SHAW: The census plays a vital role in ensuring that everyone no matter who they are receives the services that they need. The changes that we are making will help us to make better decisions about how we deliver those services. The commitment that we have to improve Census 2023 comes after decades of work done by rainbow communities all across New Zealand to ensure that the data that we collect better reflects who we are as a nation. I'd like to take this opportunity to recognise this hard work and to thank the rainbow community for what they have done to make Aotearoa New Zealand a better place. We know that there is more still to do but the inclusion of these questions is a great step. Sarah Dowie: Does this mean that specifically people who answer census questions will be able to self-identify as any gender they choose? Hon JAMES SHAW: The methodology hasn't been established yet. The consultation that opens tomorrow will help to lead towards the exact nature of those questions. [Interruption] SPEAKER: Order! Order! Sarah Dowie: What implications would this gender self-identification have to the protection of lawfully discriminated women's sex-based services? Hon JAMES SHAW: I'm sorry can she repeat the question? Sarah Dowie: What implications would gender self—SPEAKER: Sorry can the member address me and then she'll go into the mike. Sarah Dowie: OK—all right. What implications would gender self-identification have to the protection of lawfully discriminated women's sex-based services?Hon JAMES SHAW: Well the methodology hasn't been established yet. Hon Tracey Martin: Can the Minister confirm that Statistics New Zealand is collecting biological sex as well as including questions with regard to identification of gender? Hon JAMES SHAW: Yes of course. We've collected biological sex information for as long as there's been a census.