Appointments to Advisory Committee on Official Statistics

Statistics Minister Maurice Williamson today announced five appointments and four reappointments to the Advisory Committee on Official Statistics (ACOS).

Mr Tom Lambie, an existing committee member and a farmer and Chancellor of Lincoln University, has been appointed as Chair, taking over from the departing Hon David Caygill.

Dr Peter Bushnell, Ms Ria Earp, Professor Alan Lee, and Dr Colin Tukuitonga have been reappointed to the committee and there are five new appointments. The new appointees are:

Mr Len Cook, formerly National Statistician, UK Office for National Statistics and a former New Zealand Government Statistician; Dr John McDermott, Assistant Governor, Reserve Bank of New Zealand; Mr Andrew Newman, Chief Executive Hawke’s Bay Regional Council; Ms Paula Rebstock, an independent director with a background in government social sector expertise and Mr Murray Sherwin, Chair of the Productivity Commission.

ACOS provides independent advice on official statistics to the Minister of Statistics and government.

"I congratulate all the appointees. They will bring a range of complementary skills and experience to the committee,” Mr Williamson says.