Prepare to count yourself in online

For the first time, householders will be able to fill out their census forms online.

From today until Census Day on March 5, the forms will be hand-delivered to every household across New Zealand by a team of more than 7000 collectors.

The 93 census collectors in the Whanganui region will deliver internet access codes, a dwelling form and an individual form for each person who will be encouraged to go online to fill out their forms. It is secure, quick and easy and all forms completed online will be encrypted to ensure the information is protected by a high level of security.

If a household completes the forms online, collectors may not have to return.

Everyone in New Zealand on Census Day, including overseas tourists, must fill in a form.

The information collected in the 2013 Census will be used by government to make future planning decisions for health, transport and education.

Computer access

For Wanganui households that do not have a computer, they can go to a number of places on Census Day: Yes to Youth, 14 Rangiora St, Castlecliff 10am-2pm; Alexander Heritage and Research Library, Queens Park, 1pm-5pm, other opening hours Monday-Friday 1pm-5pm; Born and Raised Pasifika, 2 Mitchell St, Aramoho 8.30am-4pm; Citizens Advice Bureau, 120 Guyton St, 9.30am-3.30pm; Gonville Library, 46 Abbot St, 9am-5pm; Putiki Marae Cyber Whare, 9am-3pm; Tawhero School, Totara St, 9am-2.30pm; Wanganui Computer Club House, 7 Park Place, for youth 16-24 years, 1pm-7pm or Feb 25-March 4 Monday-Friday, 1pm-3pm; Wanganui District Library, Queens Park, library opening hours; Wanganui Girls' College, 9am-11am and 1pm-3pm or Monday/Tuesday March 4 and 5, 9am-11am and 1pm-3pm; Wanganui i-Site, 31 Taupo Quay, 8.30am-5pm for visitors to Wanganui; Whanganui Learning Centre, 232 Wicksteed St, 9am-3.30pm