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The charter sets out the relationship between Statistics New Zealand and members of the public who give us information about themselves and/or their households.
Statistics NZ is the major producer of official statistics in New Zealand. We keep New Zealanders informed about changes in our society, economy, and environment. We also lead the Official Statistics System. Through this we ensure that an efficient and coordinated statistics system is in place across all government agencies.
We collect, compile, analyse, and communicate information on a wide range of social and economic matters. We produce statistics almost every working day. These statistics include such vital measures of our economy as Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the Consumers Price Index (CPI), as well as a vast range of other statistics including results from the five-yearly Census of Population and Dwellings.
Our statistics help governments, community organisations, businesses, industry organisations, academics, and others to understand our society and economy and to make key decisions.
Producing quality statistics requires the cooperation and goodwill of people and organisations who supply information.
We collect information about people and households in a variety of ways. Sometimes we can get information from existing data sources, and if appropriate, we use that information.
We collect some information through surveys. Statistics NZ’s sample surveys are designed to select only the number of people or households needed to produce reliable statistics. Each person or household selected for the sample represents other people or households like them in the community.
Our interviewers usually carry out these sample surveys in person or over the telephone. Once every five years, we hold a Census of Population and Dwellings. Everyone must either complete a census form or be included on one. top
We conduct our household surveys across New Zealand using a team of professional interviewers.
We do most interviews using an encrypted laptop computer, which means that the text is converted into code that only Statistics NZ can retrieve. We use standard interviewing procedures to ensure interviews are conducted professionally, and to minimise the amount of time needed.
The census employs specifically trained collectors to deliver and collect census forms from all dwellings across New Zealand. Our interviewers and, our collectors are legally obliged to keep the information they collect confidential, and will be penalised if they break confidentialty. top
Statistics NZ interviewers and census collectors are bound by a Code of Conduct.
When conducting interviews with you or collecting information from you, they will:
To help us to produce high quality statistics, we ask that you:
We rely on the cooperation of the public – most people provide information willingly as they realise the importance of statistics. (Under the provisions of the Statistics Act 1975, if an authorised interviewer or census collector asks you to provide the information, you are legally obliged to do so). top
We make every effort not to take up too much of your time by:
We welcome contact from you. If you have any feedback about our surveys or general inquiries you can contact us by phone, email, fax, or letter during normal business hours.
This Charter for Individual and Household Surveys is reviewed regularly and updated if necessary. We monitor our performance against this charter and it is publicly reported in our Annual Report.
Date of publication: June 2009