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Statistics Minister Nicky Wagner is encouraging community groups to make use of information released today on 143 ethnic groups.

Statistics New Zealand today released detailed statistics on 143 of the 300 ethnic groups recorded in the 2013 Census.

“Ethnic group profiles provide in-depth and valuable information about the groups that make up New Zealand’s population and show us how they are changing over time.

Statistics Minister Nicky Wagner says information from the 2013 Census has resulted in a record number of New Zealanders downloading and using statistical information.

In the past financial year there were more than 2.5 million visits to Statistics New Zealand’s website, an increase of 320,000 on the previous year.

Statistics Minister Nicky Wagner says the latest Use and Trust in Official Statistics Survey shows an increasing number of New Zealanders are taking part in surveys and accessing government statistics online.

“Participating and sharing information with Statistics New Zealand benefits everyone.  We need to access reliable data for social and economic planning.”

The Data Futures Forum has delivered a range of thought-provoking recommendations on the use of data in New Zealand, Finance Minister Bill English and Statistics Minister Nicky Wagner say.

The forum, an advisory group comprising public and private sector experts, delivered its third and final report to the Government today.

“It shows New Zealand has the opportunity to be a world leader in the sharing of data held by government, with high ethical and privacy standards,” Mr English says.

A system developed by Statistics New Zealand is leading to more timely releases of economic information, Statistics Minister Nicky Wagner says.

The Micro-economic Platform allows data from economic surveys and administrative sources to be stored, processed and analysed in a standard way.

Statistics Minister Nicky Wagner today acknowledged a century of measuring prices by Statistics New Zealand.

The Consumers Price Index (CPI) has measured the rate of price change of goods and services purchased by individuals and families since 1914.

“The role of the CPI in New Zealand society cannot be underestimated, as movements in it influence interest rates, welfare benefits and superannuation payments,” Ms Wagner says.

Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Jo Goodhew and Statistics Minister Nicky Wagner are welcoming Statistics New Zealand’s decision to update its official measure of the not-for-profit sector.

“Community groups are the backbone of our sports and social groups, emergency service organisations, conservation, and the arts and cultural sector. These institutions, and the people who are part of them, make a significant contribution to New Zealand society and the economy,” says Mrs Goodhew.

A just published report estimates the census will deliver about $1billion in benefits during the next 25 years, Statistics Minister Nicky Wagner says.

The report, Valuing the Census, was commissioned by Statistics New Zealand and written by economic analysis firm TDB Advisory.

“The analysis shows every dollar invested in the census generates a net benefit of $5 in the economy, which is a great return on investment.

Statistics Minister Nicky Wagner says a computer system developed 25 years ago to help Pacific nations gather reliable trade information is now used in more than a dozen countries.

The PC Trade system was developed by Statistics New Zealand to support Pacific countries with limited staff or resources.  It has been upgraded several times and is now used in the likes of Tonga, Cook Islands, Kiribati and Niue.

“PC Trade is a long standing success story because it provides a recognised tool and support for the delivery of valuable trade statistics.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Statistics Minister Maurice Williamson has welcomed today’s release of a large amount of 2013 Census data by Statistics New Zealand.

“The information, which includes national highlights, regional data and information about Māori, will help shape how public money is spent over the next few years, including on health, education and transport.