Ō Tātou Tāngata, Ō Tātou Tau
Our People, Our Numbers — Census Data Workbook
Ngā Whāinga Ako · Learning Intentions
- Read a time series and compare population measures.
- Calculate absolute, percentage, and percentage-point change.
- Use evidence to communicate a careful conclusion.
Paearu Angitu · Success Criteria
- I calculate and label at least two measures of change correctly.
- My graph uses an accurate scale, title, and labels.
- My conclusion gives evidence and acknowledges a limitation.
Resources already provided
All data, formulae, graph space, sentence frames, and response spaces needed for the core task are in this workbook. You need only a pencil and, if your kaiako permits it, a calculator.
He pātai tūhura · Investigative question
How did reported conversational use of te reo Māori change in Aotearoa from 2013 to 2023?
Before looking at the data, record your conjecture:
He raraunga, he tāngata · Data represents people
Statistics can reveal patterns, but they never contain the whole story. Te reo Māori is a taonga sustained through whakapapa, whānau, iwi, hapū, kura, kaiako, and communities. Use the Census as one evidence source—not as the only authority on language identity or vitality.
Data rangatiratanga prompt: Who gathered this data, who defined “speaker”, and who should help interpret what the results mean?
1. Pānui raraunga · Read the data
| Census year | Reported conversational speakers | Share of total population |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 148,395 | 3.7% |
| 2018 | 185,955 | 4.0% |
| 2023 | 213,849 | 4.3% |
Puna kōrero / Source: Stats NZ, 2013–2023 Censuses. The Census language question asks whether a person can have a conversation about many everyday things. Counts are total responses for the census usually resident population. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place.
2. Tātai panonitanga · Calculate change
2013 to 2023:
2013 to 2023:
2013 to 2023:
Explain: Why is the percentage-point answer different from the percentage increase in speaker numbers?
3. Waihanga kauwhata · Create a time-series graph
Plot the speaker counts for 2013, 2018, and 2023. Choose a sensible vertical scale, label both axes, add a precise title, and join the points in time order.
4. Whakataurite · Compare age structure
Stats NZ reported these median ages in the 2023 Census:
| Population measure | Median age |
|---|---|
| People identifying with Māori ethnicity | 26.8 years |
| Total Aotearoa New Zealand population | 38.1 years |
- What does “median age 26.8 years” mean?
- Calculate the difference between the two medians.
- Suggest one implication for education, housing, language provision, or community services.
- Name one conclusion these two medians do not justify.
5. Arowhai kerēme · Check the claims
Supported, partly supported, or unsupported? Give evidence.
Supported, partly supported, or unsupported? What extra evidence is needed?
6. He tirohanga kē · Another valid perspective
A Census offers a national count using one definition. Whakapapa, iwi or hapū registers, marae knowledge, and community-led language research may answer different questions. Explain why using more than one knowledge source can strengthen an investigation.
7. Whakatau · Write your PPDAC conclusion
Answer the investigative question in one evidence-rich paragraph. Include:
- a clear statement of the trend
- at least two specific figures or calculations
- one sentence explaining why the change matters
- one limitation or caution about the data
- one useful next question
Sentence frame if useful: “The Census data shows … Between … and … the number/share changed by … This matters because … However, the data does not tell us … A useful next question is …”
Tīkiti puta · Exit ticket
Write one thing the data shows, one thing it cannot show by itself, and one question you now have.
Hononga marautanga · Curriculum alignment
This workbook supports the 2025 Mathematics and Statistics curriculum statement for Phase 4: time-series investigations, appropriate data visualisations and scales, calculation of percentage increase, communication of findings using evidence, and evaluation of whether claims are supported by data.
.