Ardern, with Minister of Statistics James Shaw, also announced during this afternoon's post-Cabinet press conference that $10m would be provided to enable Stats NZ to get ahead of the next Census.
The previous National-led Government decided to shift the Census to a mostly online survey and, at the same time, directed Stats NZ to cut costs over two census cycles," Shaw said.
"Stats NZ has now confirmed it will provide reliable, quality 2018 census data to calculate how many electorates will be needed for next year's General Election and to revise electorate boundaries where necessary," Shaw said.
"It had to delay other work and re-allocate funds to do it. As a result there's a shortfall of $5.76m needed to complete the delayed work, and that's being covered in this year's Budget," Shaw said.
"There's also Budget approval this year of $10.36m to enable Stats NZ to get ahead of the next census. The money will develop the business case for the 2023 Census and start development work on it.
"That development work will incorporate any improvements that are recommended by experts who have been reviewing issues with the 2018 Census," Shaw said.
Stats NZ has now confirmed it will provide reliable, quality 2018 census data to calculate how many electorates will be needed for next year's General Election and to revise electorate boundaries where necessary, Shaw said.
Shaw said Stats NZ has "made do" with the fund it had, but the funding increase would help Stats with the survey.
Shaw assured media that "no one would be left out" as a result of the lower-than-expected turn-out in the 2018 Census.
He said the 2018 Census was not a botched job.
"The most important information was still going to be available, at least in the same quality we have had in the past."
Shaw said he would be "reserving his judgment" about how the Census was executed until the independent review is completed in July.
He said he was "hot under the collar" about the way National have been slamming the way the Census has been rolled out.
Ardern was also expected to face questions during the press conference about the devastating head-on collision between an SUV and a van on State Highway 1 near Ohakuri Rd, Atiamuri, yesterday morning.
