Some people in Oamaru, particularly the elderly, are still confused as to what they should do regarding the census, and the Waitaki Concerned Citizens and Ratepayers group believes options have not been adequately publicised.
Oamaru has been chosen by Statistics New Zealand to act as a trial in the March 5 census, to decide if a new online census system can be introduced nationally in 2018. Those involved in the trial received an information pamphlet by post, telling them how to complete the census online, where help was available or to apply for census papers.
Apart from the mail-out, the trial was also publicised by Oamaru news media.
Literacy North Otago and the Oamaru Public Library were appointed to help people do the census online.
However, Waitaki Concerned Citizens and Ratepayers chairman Warren Crawford said yesterday he had been contacted by some people confused about what was happening, and who were waiting for papers to be delivered to their door as in previous census years.
''I don't think it has been publicised well, especially considering this is a national trial,'' he said.
Although people had received the mail-out, some had not read it nor did they realise there was more information on the back.
Others who had applied for papers were still waiting for them, and Tuesday was census day. There were also people concerned that if they sought help, the information they provided was no longer confidential.
