Census collectors: Counting up hazards

Naturists, dogs and broken limbs are just some of the things Census collectors have had to deal with so far.

Tauranga/Coromandel 2013 Census area manager Royston Scholes said his staff had not come across too many hazards in their rounds this year.

Two of his rural collectors were now in plaster after breaking or badly spraining their ankles on the job but even that was not enough to stop them, he said.

Dogs had been a problem but none of his staff had been seriously injured.

Coming across the occasional naturist had also provided a slight challenge for some staff.

Delivery had gone well with about 99 per cent of the estimated number of deliveries completed, he said.

The collection of forms had now begun but it was still not too late to take part. "They are still delivering as well as collecting," Mr Scholes said. "There are still quite a few people who weren't home during delivery time."

Forms could still be filled out online or on paper.

Collectors would be knocking on doors to pick up the papers until March 17.

The forms could also be posted back.

"It's from all accounts the best delivery phase of any Census yet," he said.