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More products and data to be made free
Under the Making More Information Freely Available (MIFA) initiative, some of the data and products we used to charge for are now free, with more becoming free later in 2008. Details about what's now free and what's coming up are below:
- Digital Boundaries became available on 6 July 2007. For more information or to order a CD see Digital Boundaries.
- These digital files allow mapping and geographic information systems to show the boundaries of statistical and administrative areas, for example, territorial authorities, urban areas, or area units (which are roughly the size of a suburb).
- Visualising information in map form is becoming a common way of understanding such things as market concentrations, catchments for setting franchise areas, potential market and competition, and for purposes such as choosing outlet locations. Making these files free will reduce the cost of purchasing or operating mapping systems.
- The Digital Boundaries File previously cost $3,300 plus GST for the standard five-yearly census pattern, or $25,212 plus GST for the annual detailed file.
- StreetLink became available on 6 July 2007. For more information or to request the file, go to StreetLink.
- This file relates ranges of addresses to statistical and administrative areas such as meshblock, area unit and territorial local authority.
- It allows businesses to get official statistics for areas that are relevant to their business and customer base. For example, a garden maintenance business can see how many households they have contracts with and then look at the growth potential for each of their operators.
- Previously the StreetLink file costs $6,000 plus GST for first supply. Annual updates were $2,000 plus GST for previous purchasers or $250 per update for quarterly updates.
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- The quarterly regional reviews became available on 21 September 2007. To download a copy see Regional Statistics.
- Every three months Statistics New Zealand produces a report for each territorial authority area (city and district), and for each region. This includes a variety of local and regional information such as population estimates and projections, births and deaths, crime, business locations, employee count and accommodation statistics.
- Businesses and local government alike can use these reports to monitor their market conditions, giving them confidence in their knowledge of the local conditions and more certainty in their planning.
- The quarterly regional reviews previously cost $1,000 plus GST per year for one territorial authority or region.
- Small area population estimates have been available since 28 August 2007. For more information see Population Estimates at 30 June 2006–2007 and Population Estimates at 30 June 1996, 2001 and 2006.
- Population projections are being made available progressively. This will take place from 11 April 2008 (first release) to September 2008 (last release). For more information see Population Projections.
- These figures are population estimates (the current position) and projections for ‘area units’, each of which is about the size of a suburb. Population projections look at the likely population of areas in the future, given scenarios of migration and birth and death rates. They can be very helpful for planning five, 10 or even 20 years out and give information about the population in the future.
- Population estimates for area units are calculated annually and population projections for area units are calculated every 2–3 years. Including breakdowns of age-group and sex, these are useful for estimating market size and penetration, and for evaluating areas for locating outlets, allocating franchise areas and a range of other business planning purposes. This information is widely used by businesses to identify the size and characteristics of their local market; and by central and local government to plan services and amenities.
- Population estimates and projections previously cost, on average, around $250 plus GST for a simple customised request, increasing for more comprehensive information.
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- Household expenditure data was released on 30 November 2007, with further tables released 18 December 2007.
- It shows what households spend money on, how much they are spending (on average), and what sort of individuals and households are the main buyers.
- Retailers and manufacturers can use this data to help understand their market and their market share of household expenditure, to adjust their product mix, and to look at the market potential for new products. This data can be combined with already published census information to provide an indication of where higher concentrations of potential buyers for their products and services are likely to be.
- If you cannot find the data you need in already published tables, you can request some customised data. Customised requests do incur a fee, but we always provide a 'no obligations' quote.
- Detailed business demography data became available on 26 February 2008. For more information see business tables.
- This information profiles New Zealand businesses by area unit: how many businesses there are and what industry they are in, plus the number of employees.
- It is useful for businesses that provide products or services, enabling them to identify potential areas for business growth, direct their sales force, and profile market segments for planning purposes. For example, this information can show areas of opportunity for services such as food outlets, hire services or cafes and restaurants.
- The average cost of a customised request for this kind of data previously cost around $1,600 plus GST.
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- Statistics on imports and exports are available as monthly dollar values and quantities for most items. Data for each detailed commodity is broken down by the country of origin or destination.
- For example, wine can be broken down into some 35 categories depending on the size of container, alcohol volume, whether red or white, sparkling or still, and whether or not it needs further manufacturing. This allows the wine industry to monitor volumes and values of wine exports and imports, where it is going to or coming from and how this compares with past months or years. Many businesses are currently paying for this information to monitor their competitiveness, their markets and their market share.
- The average cost for a customised request on import/export data is around $400 plus GST. From mid-2008 this will be available free.
- This information shows the value of stocks and sales for different types of retail and wholesale outlets.
- It helps businesses to understand their own industry and others they might supply to or receive products and services from, and benchmark their performance.
- The typical cost to access customised information about retail and wholesale data is around $400 plus GST. From mid-2008 this information will be free.
- Economic indicators, such as the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Balance of Payments, trade indexes, and the Consumers Price Index and Producers Price Index, measure the economy.
- They can be used by businesses as general indicators and benchmarks, or for specific purposes, for example, in supply contracts to adjust prices for inflation.
- While there is free access to this data currently via the Statistics NZ website, accessing current and historic data in one place currently costs a minimum of $600 per year plus GST. From mid-2008 this will be freely available.
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This shows the number of people arriving in or leaving New Zealand.
- This information is used by the travel and tourism industry to monitor inward and outward flows: where people are coming from and going to, for what purpose and for how long.
- The typical cost to access customised information about migration and visitors is currently around $700 plus GST. From mid-2008, more of this information will be available free of charge.
- INFOS is a large database of information that is available immediately after official release. It contains economic information (price indexes, labour market and production figures) plus demographic measures, arrival and departure data, wholesale and retail trade, exports and imports, building consents, and exchange rate series (to name a few).
- This database provides businesses with information about the economic environment, their market, and developing trends. Price indexes, for example, can help businesses understand industry costs and can be used to set and manage escalation clauses in contracts. Building consent data can be used to target areas and sectors where building activity is likely to generate demand for products and services.
- The minimum fee for INFOS is $600 plus GST per year. Users then pay for information they access. An average business user may spend around $1,200 per year. It will become freely available from mid-2008.
- These tools will allow businesses to determine which industry they are in for statistical purposes so that they can compare themselves to the correct industry group and allocate an industry or occupation code to their customers.
- This is a new tool that is scheduled for release free of charge in late 2008.
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