Preface
Many hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders participate in non-profit institutions or receive services provided by them – often at no cost. Non-profit institutions are active in areas such as health, sport and recreation, social services, education, culture, emergency response and conservation. These institutions, and the people who are a part of them, have a large impact on New Zealand society as well as on our economy.
Until now New Zealand has had no official way to measure in a consistent framework the quantity and economic value of activities undertaken by nonprofit institutions. As a result, the impact of these groups, and the contribution of their volunteers, has not been clearly visible in New Zealand’s official statistics. A more accurate picture of the size, structure and revenue of non-profit institutions, including how many there are, how many people they employ, and the level of volunteer input, will help inform debate, research and decision making in government. It is hoped the information will also be of great value to the institutions concerned, enhancing planning and promotional activities.
The Non-profit Institutions Satellite Account: 2004 is the outcome of an initiative between government, represented by Statistics New Zealand and the Office for the Community and Voluntary Sector, and the non-profit sector as part of the Study of the New Zealand Non-profit Sector. The study comprises two interrelated work streams:
- Development by Statistics NZ of the Non-profit Institutions Satellite Account, as presented in this report. This has involved collecting, assembling and analysing financial and non-financial data on non-profit institutions and then determining their economic value to the New Zealand economy.
- New Zealand participation in the international comparative study of the nonprofit sector led by the Centre for Civil Society Studies in Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore.
I am grateful for the advice received from the Committee for the Study of the New Zealand Non-profit Sector and wish to thank Garth Nowland-Foreman, David Robinson, Peter Glensor, Shona Hickey, Peter McIlraith, Robyn Munford, Loudeen Parsons, Bob Stephens, Diana Suggate, Raewyn Good and Tuwhakairiora Williams.
Geoff Bascand
Government Statistician