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The ‘Top Down Review’ of Statistics New Zealand
Introduction
Statistics New Zealand is responsible for leadership in developing and maintaining New Zealand's system of official statistics as an enduring national resource. Official statistics are fundamental to open government, as they provide a window on the work of government and on the health and state of the nation.
Funding for health, education and social services are determined through use of official statistics. Measures of the health of the economy, such as our National Accounts, the performance of businesses, through to trade and labour market data are all encapsulated in statistics that are trusted, and of high integrity and quality.
While many government agencies produce components of the official statistics system, Statistics New Zealand, as the government's statistical experts, must lead the development of the system.
In 2001, the Ministers of Finance, State Services and Statistics sought clarification of the nature of this leadership role and commissioned the Review of Statistics New Zealand and its Future Contribution to Official Statistics: The ‘Top Down Review’ of Statistics New Zealand.
There have been two reports, both of which have obtained Government approval, containing 11 elements recommended to strengthen and further develop the official statistics system ensuring better information to aid economic and social development.
Official statistics are a national resource and are an essential part of public policy development for our economy, environment and society. Good official statistics are also useful in guiding business and economic development.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Top Down Review?
How will the findings of the Top Down Review be implemented?
What are official statistics?
Can I see the Top Down Review reports?
Where can I get more information?
During 2003, Statistics New Zealand, the State Services Commission and The Treasury jointly undertook the Review of Statistics New Zealand and its Future Contribution to Official Statistics, (refer to the Terms of Reference). The review was commissioned by the Ministers of Finance, State Services and Statistics, and was carried out in consultation with all public service departments and with the cooperation of a number of other bodies.
The first stage of the review, about the immediate capability challenges facing Statistics New Zealand, was addressed during the 2003 Budget process. The second stage focussed on the broader issues around the performance of the official statistics system, (refer to the Stage Two report). The review found wide acceptance of the need for significant improvements in the overall coordination and management of the official statistics system. It confirmed the current statistical leadership role of the Government Statistician, as set out in the Statistics Act 1975, and noted that the objectives of the Act remain as relevant today as they were in 1975.
The review highlighted the need for:
- Better management of the official statistics system. The current system is characterised by a weak and fragmented coordination and management model and is not consistently focussed on the important statistics.
- Better management of access to statistical data. The current weak coordination of the official statistics system has resulted in inconsistent knowledge about and access to statistical data. This in turn has resulted in significant under utilisation of existing data and statistics to inform policy decisions and evaluative activities.
- Consistent standards and policies to be applied by departments. Currently differing standards and policies are being applied which further constrains the ability of researchers to utilise data from across government. Greater consistency in the adoption of standards and in the documentation of existing data sources would facilitate access and location of data, and allow greater integration of data from different sources.
- Better use of existing government statistics. There is significant potential to better utilise the existing stock of information within government without undertaking new surveys.
Government has supported improvements to the official statistics system which consist of 11 initiatives. Together, the initiatives will form a consistent and coherent official statistics system across government. The Government Statistician, with the support of other Public Service Chief Executives whose agencies provide official statistics, will implement the initiatives progressively over several years.
Government has supported improvements to the official statistics system which consist of 11 initiatives. Together, the initiatives will form a consistent and coherent official statistics system across government. The Government Statistician, with the support of other Public Service Chief Executives whose agencies provide official statistics, will implement the initiatives progressively over several years. The initiatives are:
- Identification of a set of important statistics (Tier 1). Tier 1 statistics are a defined set of key official statistics that are performance measures of New Zealand. The identification of Tier 1 statistics is primarily based on the purpose of the statistic and not the producer of the statistics.
- Broadening the coverage of official statistics to include statistics produced by a class of Crown entities to be known as Crown Agents. Producers of Tier 1 statistics outside the proposed scope of departments and Crown Agents need to be invited to come within the scope.
- Application of a consistent set of standards, protocols and policies for Tier 1 statistics. The Government Statistician, in consultation with departments, will set standards, protocols and policies to be applied to Tier 1 statistics and therefore maximise the ability to integrate, compare and use such statistics across the State sector.
- The Minister of Statistics will approve all new or substantially revised Tier 1 surveys to ensure standards as defined above are being met.
- Leadership by the Government Statistician of the development of the official statistics system through the development of standards, protocols and policies; that facilitate Statistics New Zealand’s supporting other departments to improve or obtain the necessary expertise and capability to improve the quality and efficiency of Tier 1 statistics. Included in this element is a strong research programme to inform users and producers about the quality and effectiveness of Tier 1 statistics, and develop new statistical series from existing data sources.
- Independent advice and review. An Advisory Committee on Official Statistics (ACOS) to the Minister of Statistics and Cabinet will represent the interests of the wider statistical community, including users, producers, and suppliers of statistical data to ensure that official statistics, particularly Tier 1, are developed to meet the needs of users and producers.
- Accessing and releasing statistics
- Users will be able to access a full list of available statistics produced by government.
- Users will be able to use a variety of standard methods to access Tier 1 statistics.
- Release of Tier 1 statistics will be by the Chief Executive of the producing agency according to a calendar of release dates published at least six months in advance.
- A single point of access to Tier 1 unit record survey and administrative data. A new business unit will be set up in Statistics New Zealand called the Official Statistics Research and Data Archive Centre and will provide a single access point for Tier 1 and a single repository for unit record data for Tier 1 surveys, for use by government, university and other researchers.
- Clear terms for contract survey work undertaken by Statistics New Zealand for government agencies. These terms and conditions must be widely available and understood by potential contracting parties.
- Notification process for all surveys, in order to produce a comprehensive register of all official surveys and reduce duplication of work by departments and respondents.
- A burden management process will be put in place for all surveys with a sample size over 2,500 to encourage collaboration across agencies. The final decision will be made by the Chief Executive of the producing agency.
Section 2 of the Statistics Act 1975 defines 'official statistics' as "statistics derived by Government Departments from:
- Statistical surveys as defined in this section; and
- Administrative and registration records and other forms and papers the statistical analyses of which are published regularly, or are planned to be published regularly, or could reasonably be published regularly".
'Statistical survey' means "a survey of undertakings, or of the public of New Zealand, whereby information is collected from all persons in a field of inquiry or from a sample thereof, by a Government Department pursuant to the authority of this Act or any other Act, or without specific provision in any Act, wholly or primarily for the purpose of processing and summarising by appropriate statistical procedures and publishing the results of the survey in some statistical form".
For further information on this area, click on one of the hyperlinks below:
The Official Statistics System in New Zealand
Protocols for Official Statistics
Statistics Act 1975
You can link to the Top Down Review Stage 2 Report here.
For further background information, click on one of the hyperlinks below:
About Statistics New Zealand
Business Frame Release Policy
Microdata Access Protocols
Charging Policy
Official Statistics in other countries
If you have further questions, or if you have external requests for information, please click here to email Cara.Baddington@stats.govt.nz from the Strategic Planning and Policy group.
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