Bakshi Kanwaljit Singh: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeBakshi Kanwaljit Singh: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 26 June 2014. Volume:699;Page:18959. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]12.KANWALJIT SINGH BAKSHI (National)to the Minister of Statistics: What is the Government doing to modernise the next census?Hon NICKY WAGNER (Minister of Statistics):As part of Budget 2014 I announced a new internet-first model to be used for the 2018 census. It will transform how the census is delivered and collected and will increase the use of administrative data. We have set a target of 70 percent of forms to be completed online but it is also important to note that at the next census people will be able to request paper forms to be delivered to their households.Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi: What will be the advantages of this new model?Hon NICKY WAGNER: This new model will help counter rising costs and falling response rates. It will also lead to more timely releases of information. Although the new model is technology-driven there will also be a huge effort to reach people without technology or those who live in remote places. This is the biggest change to the census in modern memory and I am proud to be part of the National-led Government that is responsible for this step change.Raymond Huo: Will the Minister include collecting data on foreign ownership of our residential properties in the next census; if not why not?Hon NICKY WAGNER: The census collects information on housing. The census itself is for households in New Zealand. It will continue to collect that information.Raymond Huo: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I asked specifically on foreign ownership—Mr SPEAKER: Order! I invite the member to ask his question again.Raymond Huo: Will the Minister include collecting data on foreign ownership of our residential properties in the next census; if not why not?Hon NICKY WAGNER: The census data collects information on ownership of homes but it does not connect that information to the ethnicity of that ownership.Grant Robertson: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. With respect that does not address the question. That is a statement of fact. The member was asking whether the Minister intends to alter that in some way. That is the point of the question.David Bennett: Why didn’t you ask the question then?Grant Robertson: For David Bennett’s benefit that was quite clear I think.Mr SPEAKER: The member is right. The difficulty I have is how many times we are going to ask the question.Grant Robertson: Can we have one more?Mr SPEAKER: I will allow one more—it is Thursday afternoon. The member can repeat his question.Raymond Huo: Three strikes.Melissa Lee: Raymond when did you become anti-Chinese?Raymond Huo: I beg your pardon? [Interruption]Mr SPEAKER: Order! We do not need the interjections. [Interruption] Order! We do not need the interjections; we now need the question asked so the Minister can clearly hear it.Raymond Huo: Kiwi Chinese are New Zealanders and not foreigners.Mr SPEAKER: Order! Just ask the question. [Interruption] Order! The House will settle down. Now Mr Huo may rise to his feet and simply ask the question again without any other comment.Raymond Huo: Will the Minister include collecting data on foreign ownership of our residential properties in the next census; if not why not?Hon NICKY WAGNER: The census has been run for almost a hundred years and it has a longitudinal study of certain questions. However each time a new census comes up those questions can be tweaked. Between now and 2018 we will be looking at all those questions.