LAWS OF TONGA

CENSUS REGULATIONS 2006

GS 6C of 2006

STATISTICS ACT
[3rd April 2006] 

IN EXERCISE of the powers conferred by Section 8 of the Statistics Act (Cap. 53), the Minister with the consent of Cabinet hereby makes the following regulations-

1. Short title 

These Regulations may be cited as the Census Regulations 2006. 

2. 2006 Census 

A population census of the Kingdom of Tonga will be taken on the 30 November, 2006 and all persons within the Kingdom and its territorial waters at midnight of that day are to be enumerated. 

3. Appointment of the government statistician 

The Government Statistician will be responsible for administration and completion of the population census. 

4 Duties of the Government Statistician 

The Government Statistician shall, for the purpose of the population census - 

(a)

(i). initiate a Census Steering Committee composed of representatives of relevant Government Departments or any other person or institution; 

(ii). such Committee may review the plans for the census and be responsible for liaison between the census organization and the organizations they represent; 

(b). 

(i). divide the Kingdom into Census Districts and Census Blocks; 

(ii). identify, and locate on maps, all places used for human habitation as Households; and 

(iii). for each Household so identified, nominate a Head of Household. 

(c) 

(i). appoint or engage persons to assist in the taking of the population census, as Supervisors, Enumerators or otherwise and assign specific duties related to the census to them, and require them to be trained in the efficient and accurate discharge of these duties; and 

(ii). the public will be notified of the names of Supervisors and Enumerators, the areas to which they are assigned, and any identification by which they may be recognized; 

(d). require any persons employed for the purpose of the population census to make a statutory declaration as set out in Section 7 of the Statistics Act; 

(e). prescribe the particulars to be stated on the population census schedule and compile handbooks and specifications by which the population census is to be conducted; 

(f). organize a campaign to publicize and explain the aims nature and benefits of the population census using media such as newspapers, radio, television and posters; 

(g) 

(i). require all persons nominated as Head of Households, including persons in charge of any institution, whether public or private, (including hotels, hospitals, prisons, boarding houses, schools, military or religious quarters, boats and ships whether berthed or in the territorial waters of the Kingdom, excepting only tourist cruise ships arid foreign naval vessels); and 

(ii). to ensure that all' persons within their Households are enumerated as of the census date and to inform a Census Supervisor if they have reason to believe that their Household or any person therein, has been omitted; 

(h). initiate a Post-enumeration Survey, to follow the main enumeration, for the purpose of checking on the accuracy and completeness of the population census; 

(i). authorize and organize the processing of the information gained from the population census; 

(j). commission the analysis of the census information, the writing of Reports on the Population Census and arrange for the publication and dissemination of such reports; and 

(k). organize a campaign to publicize the results of the population census, employing methods such as user-group workshops, publication of census results in non-technical form and in both the English and Tongan languages. 

5. Particulars that may be required 

The following shall be the matters of which particulars may be required – 

Full Name 

Sex Date of Birth and/or Age 

Citizenship 

Ethnicity 

Marital Status 

Place of Birth 

Education 

Economic Activity and/or Employment 

Characteristics of Household and Dwelling 

Migration history 

Fertility history'(for women only) 

Source of income or support 

Land Holdings 

Religion*

*Optional - persons may not be compelled to state particulars relating to their religion if they object thereto.

Made at Nuku'alofa this 24 day of March, 2006.

Hon. Sosiua 'Utoikamanu
Minister of Finance.