Statistics New Zealand has prosecuted dozens of people for failing to fill out forms in the latest national census.

The agency filed 99 cases in district courts throughout the country, following the census last July.

As a result, 46 people have been convicted of failing to fill out forms.

They have received fines ranging from $50 to $500.

Everyone in New Zealand on census night is legally required to complete a census form.

There were 41 such convictions in relation to the previous census in 2006.