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Statistics Minister Nicky Wagner has welcomed the release of new statistics today on Māori businesses that will provide vital information to the sector.

Tatauranga Umanga Māori is the first official release of Māori business statistics, and provides information on the contribution Māori authorities’ businesses make to the economy.

“Tatauranga Umanga Māori provides a meaningful platform for ongoing discussion and debate amongst the government, business and Māori sector about respective approaches to measuring Māori economic development,” Ms Wagner says.

Customs Minister Nicky Wagner today welcomed the addition of a new drug detector dog at Auckland Airport.

Golden labrador Dirk is replacing one of Customs’ longest serving dogs, Titan, who is retiring after six years of service at the border.

Customs Minister Nicky Wagner today announced 500,000 inward transactions have now been processed through the Joint Border Management System.

The Trade Single Window component of the system, which has been developed by Customs and the Ministry for Primary Industries, was launched in 2013 for importers and exporters to submit shipment details electronically to a single point of contact, rather than dealing with several government agencies.

Associate Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Nicky Wagner says the Residential Advisory Service has assisted thousands of earthquake-hit property owners in Canterbury since its inception a year ago.

The service provides free, independent help to residential property owners who are facing challenges in getting their home repaired or rebuilt following the Canterbury earthquakes.

“It has received more than 5000 calls and emails from people seeking help, and independent advisors have held more than 1000 meetings with property owners to progress their situations.

Statistics Minister Nicky Wagner says the 2013 regional census tour has helped dozens of communities understand what census data can be used for and how it affects them.

More than 1500 people have attended Statistics New Zealand hosted community seminars around the country in recent weeks to learn about the census and hear the findings from the latest one held in 2013.

Associate Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Nicky Wagner tonight launched the Community in Mind psychosocial strategy for greater Christchurch.

The strategy, which was developed by the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority from key agencies and organisations across Canterbury and nationally, aims to identify what individuals and communities need for effective psychosocial recovery over the next three to six years.

Customs Minister Nicky Wagner says the departure of hundreds of yachts from northern ports marks the end of a successful season for Customs.

Customs cleared 380 yachts to enter New Zealand over spring and summer, making sure crew aren’t carrying prohibited goods or doing anything illegal.  Of those 210 have now departed, with 102 leaving from Opua, 63 from Whangarei and 45 from Auckland.

Statistics Minister Nicky Wagner is welcoming today’s release of the 2013 Disability Survey results by Statistics New Zealand.

The results provide a comprehensive source of information on disabled people in New Zealand, and the nature and cause of impairments.

“The data gives us a better picture of the disabled community and its needs, which provides the information decision-makers, service providers, individuals and advocates really need.

Statistics Minister Nicky Wagner today congratulated two Statistics New Zealand statisticians for their achievements in an international competition.

Laura O'Sullivan and Michelle Feyen have taken first and second place respectively in the International Association for Official Statistics 2014 Prize for Young Statisticians Competition.

“This is an outstanding accomplishment on the international stage by two bright, young statisticians.

Associate Conservation Minister Nicky Wagner today paid tribute to the thousands of volunteers in the conservation sector who are playing a vital part to protect our special plants, animals and places. 

Associate Conservation Minister Nicky Wagner today announced 124 appointments to the 14 Conservation Boards around the country.

“I extend my congratulations to all the community representatives who’ve been appointed in 2014, particularly the 88 who will serve for the first time.

“The diverse range of appointees will bring a wide array of knowledge and skills to conservation management to benefit the communities they represent.

New Zealand businesses are spending 40,000 fewer hours filling in surveys as part of the government’s drive to improve public services, Statistics Minister Nicky Wagner says.

Statistics New Zealand monitoring shows the hours spent by businesses each year on its surveys fell from 170,000 in 2002 to 130,000 by the end of 2012.

“The reduction has been achieved by making better use of existing data like tax information, which means less has to be collected by surveys.

Customs Minister Nicky Wagner today recognised the Customs Service’s Secure Exports Scheme for handling more than $150 billion in trade since its inception 10 years ago.

The scheme provides a secure supply chain from the point of packing the container to delivery at the New Zealand port of departure. Because a container’s security is assured, it is less likely to encounter delays.

“Growth has been such that $19 billion in trade was processed through the scheme in 2013, which amounts to almost of third of all exports.

Statistics Minister Nicky Wagner today announced a new internet first model will transform how the census is delivered and collected, and will increase the use of administrative data.

Budget 2014 provides an initial $13.1 million of new operating funding in 2014/15 and $547,000 of new capital funds from the Future Investment Fund towards a modernised census to be held in 2018.

A new report shows overall air quality in New Zealand is the best it has been since comprehensive records began in 2006, Environment Minister Amy Adams and Statistics Minister Nicky Wagner say.

The 2014 Air Domain Report was released today by the Environment Ministry and Statistics New Zealand.

The report finds overall air quality in New Zealand is improving, with lower levels of PM10, reduced vehicle emissions and lower health impacts from PM10, Ms Adams says.

The key findings are:

Customs Minister Nicky Wagner says detector dogs have sniffed out more than $2.5 million of undeclared or concealed cash at the border since starting work 10 months ago.

Statistics Minister Nicky Wagner today welcomed the release of 2013 QuickStats about a place by Statistics New Zealand for the insight the data offers into local communities.

The online tool uses a combination of census and other official statistics to give an understanding into local suburbs, cities, districts and regions across topics such as population, incomes, housing, cultural diversity, age and sex.