Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Wide-ranging improvements to the data system will modernise and future-proof how New Zealand’s economic and population statistics are produced.

Minister of Statistics Hon Dr Shane Reti announced today sweeping changes that will see Stats NZ moving in a bold, future-focused direction to provide more timely and relevant data.

“People’s information needs are changing and today’s announcements ensure we keep delivering data that improves lives today and for generations to come,” Acting Stats NZ Chief Executive and Government Statistician Mary Craig said.

The changes include moving to an admin-data-first census and publishing a monthly consumers price index (CPI), as well as a programme of work to meet new international standards for macroeconomic statistics.

“As New Zealand faces widespread and long-term social, economic, environmental, and technological change, people’s need for information is growing exponentially.

“These changes will help ensure Stats NZ continues to adapt and provide high-quality information that supports New Zealand’s economic and social wellbeing,” Craig said.

New Zealand’s census is evolving

Cabinet has endorsed the Government Statistician’s decision to prioritise the use of information already collected by government, known as administrative (admin) data, for future censuses.

The approach builds on the combined survey and admin data models successfully used since the 2018 Census.

“This is an exciting and necessary change. The traditional way of running a nationwide survey on census day can no longer be justified, due to rising costs, declining survey response rates, and disruption from events, like Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023,” Craig said.

“From 2030, key New Zealand census data and statistics will be produced every year, in a cost-effective and sustainable way.

“By tapping into information New Zealanders have already provided, we will deliver more relevant, useful, and timely data to help inform quality planning and decision making.”

Surveys will continue to play an important role, with a new annual survey asking census-type questions of a small percentage of the population.

“The new survey will be set up to be highly flexible, with opportunities to change content and topics much more frequently.”

Stats NZ will also work in partnership with smaller population groups to develop tailored solutions that will help meet their information needs.

Stats NZ is working together with other government agencies to ensure that legislation supports the new approach and to make sure the admin data collected improves in quality over the next five to 10 years.

“Ensuring the ongoing privacy and protection of data is a priority as we introduce these improvements,” Craig said.

Modernising economic statistics to support economic growth and social investment

New funding of $16.5 million over four years will enable Stats NZ to deliver a monthly CPI from the beginning of 2027.

“The CPI is a key indicator of economic health and is used in monetary policy to set interest rates and index contracts, and influences things like benefit payments.

“More frequent inflation data is important for policy, forecasting, and informing decisions that help address cost-of-living pressures and drive economic growth.

“We are pleased to be taking this next step in enhancing our economic data,” Craig said.

To ensure Stats NZ successfully delivers a monthly CPI, we are already updating our prices technology platform and building up the project team.

Budget 2025 also includes tagged contingency funding of just over $61 million over four years to meet new international standards for macroeconomic statistics.

The changes are extensive, and Stats NZ is preparing a detailed business case which, once approved, will see the new standards implemented by 2030.

“The Measuring a Modern Economy programme will allow us to adopt the standards at the same time as our major trading partners, and ensure New Zealand has reliable data that provides a clearer picture of the economy,” Craig said.

More information

www.stats.govt.nz/modernising-the-census provides more information about the changes to modernise the census.

The New Zealand Super Fund has again been awarded a perfect score in the annual GSR (governance, sustainability, resilience) scoreboard published by international sovereign wealth fund experts GlobalSWF.

Introduced in 2020, GlobalSWF’s GSR scoreboard ranks sovereign wealth funds and public pension funds against 25 criteria including transparency and accountability, governance structure and processes, ethical standards and policies, and alignment with sustainable development goals.

The Guardians is one of nine sovereign investors to sit at the top of this year’s scoreboard. In preparing these rankings, GlobalSWF analyses 200 Sovereign Wealth Funds and Public Pension Funds, which manage US$ 29.4 trillion on behalf of 80 countries. It is the fifth successive year the Super Fund has received full marks.

Jo Townsend, CEO of Super Fund manager the Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation, said the GSR scoreboard is based on a comprehensive evaluation of factors that are important to the Fund’s long-term success.

“I am very pleased to see our team’s hard work recognised by GlobalSWF,” said Ms Townsend.

More information on Global SWF and the GSR scoreboard can be found here: https://nzsuperfund.cmail19.com/t/d-l-skdilud-hujkdust-n/

Covering period of Wednesday 18th – Monday 23rd June – After a week of crisp, cold days, MetService is forecasting a shift in the weather as rain moves over the country on Thursday, and showers lingering into Friday morning. While some spots start the day under cloud with a few showers about, the eastern South Island is shaping up as the best spot for viewing Matariki or Puanga— and others may get lucky with clearer skies too.

Maritime NZ has filed two charges against KiwiRail after completing a comprehensive and wide-ranging investigation into the grounding of the Interislander ferry, Aratere last year.

The Aratere grounded just north of Picton on 21 June last year, it had 47 people on-board at the time. Thankfully, all passengers and crew were safely returned to shore.  The ferry was re-floated the following evening.

Maritime NZ’s Chief Executive, Kirstie Hewlett, says the two charges filed against KiwiRail under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 relate to failures by the operator to keep crew and passengers safe while on-board the ferry.

“This was a complex incident and important investigation given it focussed on KiwiRail bringing in new systems to older vessels and broader safety management. It required us to look at systems, policies and procedures, culture, within KiwiRail in relation to the incident. A significant number of interviews were conducted, as well as collating and reviewing a substantial amount of relevant documentation and evidence.

“The time taken to undertake this investigation, collate and review the evidence, and decide on compliance action is consistent with other complex and major incidents.

As we have now filed charges in court, we cannot talk about what our investigation found,” Kirstie Hewlett says.

Charges:

Charge 1: s48 charge – in that it had a duty as a PCBU, namely to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the health and safety of those passengers and crew who would sail aboard the Aratere and that failure exposed crew members and passengers to the risk of death or serious injury. Maximum penalty $1.5m

Charge 2: s49 charge under HSWA – in that it had a duty as a PCBU, failed to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of those passengers and crew who would sail aboard the Aratere.  Maximum penalty: $500,000

Source: Palestine Forum of New Zealand

The Palestine Forum of New Zealand notes with deep appreciation the public statement issued today by ninety‑five New Zealand lawyers urging the Government to adopt a stronger stance on Israel amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.

We stand in solidarity with these respected members of the legal profession who, in highlighting international law, human rights, and the principles underpinning New Zealand’s foreign policy, are calling for moral and political leadership from our nation.

Their call comes at a critical juncture: New Zealand’s vote at the UN in support of the resolution recommending Israel’s withdrawal from occupied territories was a step in the right direction. However, it must now be followed by coherent action—politically, diplomatically, and legally—consistent with our international obligations scoop.co.nz+12scoop.co.nz+12scoop.co.nz+12.

We concur with the lawyers’ analysis:

• That Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land violates international law.

• That increasing violence and civilian suffering, particularly in Gaza and the West Bank, demand concrete responses.

• That New Zealand’s standing as a principled actor in world affairs calls for both clear condemnation of abuses and active support for measures that uphold international law, including:

  • Support for ICC proceedings and arrest warrants for war crimes suspects;

  • The use of targeted sanctions;

  • Suspension of government contracts and investment ties with entities complicit in occupation;

  • Advocacy for an immediate ceasefire, unimpeded humanitarian access, and humanitarian visas for Palestinians fleeing conflict.

As legal voices within our own legal fraternity have acknowledged, our Government holds not only a right but a duty to lead—ahead of electoral cycles—by placing human rights and international justice at the heart of its foreign policy.

We call on the Government to honour these principles by engaging thoughtfully with the lawyers' briefing, committing publicly to concrete measures, and joining the global community in holding violators of international law to account.

Today’s call by our country’s legal community is both timely and courageous. We affirm their voices. And we renew our call for New Zealand to do the same.

Maher Nazzal
Palestine Forum of New Zealand