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Statistics Minister Craig Foss is welcoming the release of Cabinet papers on the future of the census and appointments to the working group of the Data Futures Partnership.

Statistics New Zealand has published the Census Transformation paper and a Cabinet paper of the appointments made to the Data Futures Partnership Working Group.

“New Zealand needs the information from the census to enable communities to plan for things like schools, health needs and roads,” says Mr Foss.

A leap forward in the use of existing tax data means Statistics New Zealand has been able to halve the number of businesses being surveyed for important economic information, Minister of Statistics and for Small Business Craig Foss says.

Until now, 1800 businesses around the country have been surveyed for the manufacturing, wholesale trade, and services information.

But an improved survey design made possible by better use of existing tax data means that number has been trimmed to 900.

New Zealanders who want to understand the similarities or differences between Sandringham and Three Kings, Brooklyn and Vogeltown, or Sydhenham and Beckenham can have their say about how these areas and more are defined for statistical purposes, Statistics Minister Craig Foss says.

Statistics New Zealand is reviewing its Statistical Standard for Geographic Areas (SSGA) for the first time in over 20 years.  The review aims to improve how statistical geographies are defined and used in statistical data.

New Zealanders are being invited to have their say about proposed topics under the new national environmental reporting system, Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith and Statistics Minister Craig Foss announced today.

Publication of the first comprehensive, independent and nationwide set of statistics on the environment today is an important step in strengthening the integrity of New Zealand’s clean green brand, Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith and Statistics Minister Craig Foss say. 

Statistics Minister Craig Foss is celebrating World Statistics Day today with a new infographic explaining how better data leads to better lives for all New Zealanders.

“World Statistics Day is an opportunity to reflect on the enormous value of data and whether we — as a government, business, family or individual — are making the most of the opportunities it presents,” Mr Foss says.

Finance Minister Bill English and Statistics Minister Craig Foss today named the working group responsible for leading the new Data Futures Partnership.

“The Data Futures Partnership is an exciting opportunity to potentially deliver economic and social value for New Zealand by solving issues that limit trusted data-use and innovation,” Mr English says.

“I’m confident this diverse group of people has the knowledge and experience necessary to understand the issues and look for innovative solutions.”

New Zealand’s clean, green brand will be strengthened with the passage of the Environmental Reporting Act by Parliament today, Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith and Statistics Minister Craig Foss say. 

“The new Environmental Reporting Act will back up our clean, green brand with authoritative and independent information on the state of our environment. It will tell us where we match up, where we don’t and give regular updates so that we can track long-term changes,” Dr Smith says.

New Zealand will gain significant economic and social benefits from the formation of the New Zealand Data Futures Partnership, Finance Minister Bill English and Statistics Minister Craig Foss say.

The Partnership — an independent group made up of members from the private, NGO, academic and public sectors — will champion the safe collection, use and sharing of government and business data.

“The volume of data held by the public and private sectors is growing exponentially,” Mr English says.

Statistics Minister Craig Foss says a new infographic celebrating 150 years since Wellington became the capital shows how far the city has come.

“Wellington was chosen as the capital city by three Australians 150 years ago.  A lot has changed since then and Statistics NZ has been able to track that change through the data it collects,” Mr Foss says.

“Wellington really is the ‘coolest little capital’ but 150 years ago it was seriously little — with a population of just over 7000 people.

Statistics Minister Craig Foss is again urging New Zealanders to share their views on 2018 Census content.

The consultation process includes online submissions and a discussion forum — a first for Statistics New Zealand. 

“It’s been great to see hundreds of New Zealanders going online to discuss and debate what really matters to them,” Mr Foss says.

“I encourage anyone who hasn’t done so already to go online and have their say before the consultation process ends on 30 June.

Statistics Minister Craig Foss says the Agricultural Production Survey is going digital for the first time, saving farmers and growers time, while still providing important information on the country’s biggest industry.

The annual survey, which asks 30,000 people about their agricultural and forestry production businesses, will be available online next month after more than 80 years of paper-based surveys.

“Delivering better online services is a key focus of the Government’s Better Public Services programme,” Mr Foss says.

A Budget 2015 investment of over $1 million a year will close a critical gap in New Zealand’s financial information, Statistics Minister Craig Foss says.

Budget 2015 includes $5.75 million over the next four years for Statistics New Zealand’s Financial Flows and Balance Sheets project — a joint initiative with Treasury and the Reserve Bank of New Zealand.

Statistics New Zealand and accounting software firm Xero have signed a trial data supply agreement that could improve the quality of statistics and produce new ones for the benefit of both government and business, Statistics Minister Craig Foss says.

“This is an excellent example of the government working better for business,” Mr Foss says.

“Data is an invaluable resource.  It has the potential to revolutionise the way we govern and the way we do business — the opportunities are endless.”

Statistics Minister Craig Foss says a new online discussion forum is a great way for New Zealanders to help shape the 2018 census.

“This is the first time Statistics NZ has done this type of online consultation,” Mr Foss says.

“For about 150 years, the census was primarily about people going door to door delivering paper forms. We want to turn that around in 2018, with at least 70 per cent of New Zealanders completing their census online.

Statistics Minister Craig Foss says a new online resource can help small businesses succeed by identifying their customers, markets and competition.

Statistics New Zealand has launched a new section on its website dedicated to small businesses.

“Statistics NZ and the data it provides is a valuable resource for the hundreds of thousands of small businesses in New Zealand,” Mr Foss says.

The Government is backing the recommendations of the NZ Data Futures Forum to make better use of public data and uphold privacy standards, Finance Minister Bill English and Statistics Minister Craig Foss say.

The NZ Data Futures Forum — an independent expert advisory group from the public and private sectors — was established by the Government last year to help drive further use of open data.

Recommendations in the forum’s final report included:

Statistics Minister Craig Foss says the use of tablet computers is making data collection faster and more efficient.

This month, Statistics NZ began using iPad Minis to collect fruit and vegetable prices from shops in 12 regions around New Zealand.

The data is used in the Food Price Index, and the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures inflation.