'In the shadows': LGBTI still to be invisible in next NZ census

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people will still be invisible when it comes to the next New Zealand Census.

Despite the Greens pushing for change, the 2018 Census will not feature any questions about sexual orientation or gender identity.

Efforts from LGBTI activists to include the data in the census have not been taken into consideration with Statistics Minister James Shaw revealing it was too late to change the 2018 Census.

However, Shaw is confident a new standard would be implemented before the 2023 Census.

LGBTI activists have long pushed for the research to be included in the census, saying they need to know the size and location of their community.

"Rainbow organisations are quite underfunded and the statistics would help us highlight to those in control of funding that there is a huge need in our community," RaindowYOUTH executive director Frances Arms told Fairfax.

"The data you get from the census is incomparable."

In the 2018 General Social Survey, Statistics New Zealand will include a question on sexual orientation that will ask "which of the following options best describe how you think of yourself".

The list of possible answers includes "Heterosexual or straight, gay or lesbian, bisexual, or other".

Shaw hopes more accurate sexual orientation data will become available in the near future.