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Statistics Minister Maurice Williamson today announced a change to Statistics New Zealand’s Integrated Data Infrastructure platform that will give approved researchers more timely access to tax data.

From June approved IDI researchers will be able to access anonymised tax data within three months of it being supplied from Inland Revenue.  Previously it took 14 months.

Land Information Minister Maurice Williamson today announced New Zealand’s most current publicly owned aerial imagery, covering 95 per cent of the country, is now available online.

Land Information New Zealand has been working with other agencies to make imagery available under an open licence, and to ensure it is accessible through the LINZ Data Service.

“Releasing publicly held aerial imagery for reuse has the potential to create cost savings for the public sector and generate economic benefits for the private sector.

Several trends have emerged following analysis of the 2013 Census online option, Statistics Minister Maurice Williamson says.

Close to two million census forms, or 34 per cent of all forms, were done online, with the response rate peaking at 130,000 forms per hour on census night.

“The average time taken to complete an individual form was 10 minutes and eight minutes for the dwelling form.

Customs Minister Maurice Williamson today congratulated Customs for its successful summer campaign, which achieved major drug seizures and high service levels during a record travel season.

“Customs runs Operation Summer every year, moving resources to assist holiday-makers entering and leaving New Zealand, while targeting those smuggling illicit goods or travelling for criminal purposes.

“Between November and March Customs made 120 drug finds, including three methamphetamine seizures totalling 14 kilograms at Auckland Airport.

Police Minister Anne Tolley and Customs Minister Maurice Williamson have announced that New Zealand’s drug enforcement relationship with China is being strengthened to help identify organised criminals in China and reduce the supply of precursors and methamphetamine into this country.

The new initiative will play a key part in the Government’s Methamphetamine Action Plan, and follows the signing of a Memorandum of Arrangement (MOA) on precursor controls between China and New Zealand in April 2013.

Customs Minister Maurice Williamson today announced SmartGate is now open to United Kingdom and American travellers on arrival.

The automated border clearing technology uses information in ePassports and facial recognition technology to do customs and immigration checks.  It allows Customs to focus on high-risk travellers while letting low-risk people clear the border easily.

Statistics Minister Maurice Williamson today welcomed the decision by Statistics New Zealand to reduce fees for academic researchers using its Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI) platform.

The IDI gives approved researchers access to anonymised data as part of the Government’s drive to improve evidence-based policy making and promote the reuse of publicly held data.

“Improving access to data from across the public sector will lead to new insights and lift the quality of independent advice Government receives.

Customs Minister Maurice Williamson today announced $26 million of methamphetamine or ‘P’ was stopped from reaching New Zealand’s streets following a series of targeted operations in late 2013.

From August to November, Customs intercepted 11.5kg of methamphetamine and about 117kg of precursors that included 91.5kg of Contac NT, and just over 17.5kg of iodine, pseudoephedrine and ephedrine.

A Bill that supports the implementation of a new border management system has passed its third and final reading in Parliament today.

Customs Minister Maurice Williamson says the Border Processing (Trade Single Window and Duties) Bill amends the Customs and Excise Act 1996 and the Biosecurity Act 1993 to support implementation of the trade single window component of the Joint Border Management System.

Efforts to coordinate central and local government procurement of aerial imagery will ensure better value for money and open access to the data, Land Information Minister Maurice Williamson says.

Aerial imagery is captured from airborne sensors and cameras, and its uses include land management and disaster recovery planning.

“Land Information New Zealand is working with local authorities and government agencies to establish a national programme for coordinating public sector imagery purchases.

Land Information Minister Maurice Williamson today hailed the Marine Mate smartphone application as a great example of central and local government collaborating to make public data more accessible.

Marine Mate provides a wide range of vital boating information, including tide times, boat ramp locations and boating bylaws, that matches its user’s location.

“Developed by Waikato Regional Council with data from Land Information New Zealand and other agencies, it has now achieved more than 14,000 downloads since its launch late last year.

Land Information Minister Maurice Williamson says 3D models of buildings past, present and planned are being made available from today to help people visualise how the Christchurch central city will look.

As part of the Canterbury spatial data infrastructure programme, led by Land Information New Zealand, a set of 3D models of buildings pre-earthquake have been released under an open license, making them available to anyone.

“The ability to better visualise changes will play a key role in engagement, consultation, enhanced planning decisions and efficiency.

Land Information Minister Maurice Williamson and Pacific Island Affairs Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga have welcomed the completion of electronic navigational charts for the south-west Pacific.

The development of these charts by Land Information New Zealand for Niue Tonga, Samoa, Cook Islands and Tokelau is part of an initiative funded by the New Zealand Aid Programme to improve maritime safety in the region.

Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson has welcomed the passing of the first reading of the Building (Earthquake-prone buildings) Amendment Bill today.

“This Bill will ensure earthquake-prone buildings are dealt with in a timely manner by way of a nationally consistent system and will require information about earthquake-prone buildings to be made available to the public.

“It strikes a balance between protecting people from harm in an earthquake and managing the costs of strengthening or removing such buildings.

Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson today announced the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand has agreed to review the adequacy of engineering design work done for four Christchurch buildings.

Following issues with Christchurch City Council’s consenting processes arising last year, engineers raised with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment concerns about the design and safety of seven buildings.

Statistics Minister Maurice Williamson and Pacific Island Affairs Minister Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga announced today that statisticians from Pacific countries will spend time at Statistics New Zealand in an effort to grow their statistical knowledge and capability.

Four statisticians from Fiji, Kiribati, Tuvalu and Nauru will work in Wellington from Monday for a month as part of a programme supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Land Information Minister Maurice Williamson says claims made by New Zealand First leader Winston Peters today that Huka Lodge, in Taupo, has been sold to Chinese interests are not true.

“The Overseas Investment Office has spoken to Huka Lodge director and shareholder David McGregor, and he has confirmed no sale has been made or is being considered.

Huka Lodge was last sold in 2003, following Overseas Investment Commission approval, when a Labour Government was in power
 

Customs Minister Maurice Williamson has welcomed the passing of the second reading of the Border Processing (Trade Single Window and Duties) Bill.

The Bill amends the Customs and Excise Act 1996 and the Biosecurity Act 1993 to support the implementation of the Joint Border Management System.

“The new system is replacing existing Customs and Ministry for Primary Industries IT systems, integrating border clearance processes, and providing a single channel (the Trade Single Window) for importers and exporters to comply with New Zealand’s border requirements.

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee and Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson today announced no safety problems have been found in a random audit of building consents issued by Christchurch City Council.

International Accreditation New Zealand revoked the council’s building consent accreditation in July 2013 following its inability to bring its processes up to the required standard.

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee and Statistics Minister Maurice Williamson say the release of further census information about Christchurch will provide much needed information for the rebuild.

Mr Brownlee says data released by Statistics New Zealand today shows just how much the region has changed following the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes.

The Government has set up a working group to advise ministers on how the collection, sharing and use of business and personal information will impact on public services in the coming years.

“The Government has put in a lot of effort over recent years to provide frameworks for the collection, storage and use of information,” Finance Minister Bill English says.

“In particular, we have worked hard to catch up with public expectations about security and privacy in the fast-moving electronic environment.

The next phase of work to update and enhance the New Zealand Vertical Datum 2009 is set to begin tomorrow, Land Information Minister Maurice Williamson says.

The NZVD2009 provides a consistent reference point for measuring heights in New Zealand, its offshore islands and the continental shelf. A project to collect aerial gravity data to improve accuracy began last year.

Flights to collect South Island aerial gravity data are due to begin from Timaru tomorrow.

Land Information Minister Maurice Williamson today welcomed the release of Cadastre 2034 strategy by the Surveyor-General.

The cadastre is the official record of land boundaries.  It includes official survey plans, information about boundary marks, survey measurements, and other supporting information provided by surveyors.  

The Crown Land Centre of Expertise has now signed a memorandum of understanding with seven public sector agencies, Land Information Minister Maurice Williamson says.

The centre was established within Land Information New Zealand as part of the Government’s drive for agencies to assume leadership roles in areas in which they have expertise.

It uses LINZ’s expertise and innovation to support and advise a growing number of Crown agencies on the management and, where required, the disposal of surplus Crown land.