The Statistics New Zealand buildings in Christchurch were also damaged . They were due to process much of the March 2011 census of New Zealand . The Chief Executive of Statistics New Zealand , Geoff Bascand , announced on 25 February that the national census planned for 8 March 2011 would not take place due to the disruption and displacement of people in the Canterbury region , and also the damage sustained by Statistics New Zealand 's buildings in Christchurch , which was scheduled to process much of the census .