The first census that Maori took part in was Bishop Selwyn's 1844 Census; European had census' since before 1841. Census' may be found at libraries, generally in the local area.

Maori census years: 1857-8, 1874, 1878, 1881, 1886, 1891, 1896, 1901, 1906, 1911, 1916, 1921, 1926, 1936, 1945, 1951, 1956, 1961, 1966, 1971, 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996. (Years were missed during the New Zealand Wars for obvious reasons of bias.)

European census years: 1851, 1858, 1861, 1864, 1867, 1871, 1874, 1878, 1881, 1886, 1891, 1896, 1901, 1906, 1911, 1916, 1921, 1926, 1936, 1945, *1945 (New Zealand armed forces overseas), 1951, 1956, 1961, 1966, 1971, 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996.

Auckland Libraries:

• University of Auckland - New Zealand and Pacific Collection has Census records dating from 1871 to present.
• Auckland Central City holdings are contained here.
• Devonport Archives and Takapuna Archives - Takapuna Adult, Takapuna NZ Collection, contain census records from Registrar General's Office for the years 1841, 1851, 1861, 1871, 1891, 1896, 1901, plus census returns from 1916, 1926, 1936, 1945, 1966 - 1996 and 2001, are contained in the Devonport Borough Council scrap books.