Statistics New Zealand Country Update International Trade Conference September 2008 Ken Smart

Start with a few high level / organisation wide issues: We have a new Government Statistician – Geoff Bascand (Brian gone to ABS!) Instead of the old advisory committee, Geoff has instituted a Board, of which he is chair A large project of our last minister was MIFA (Making Information Freely Available) Work on ‘domain plans’ (identification of key statistical information needs, the current supply, and priority actions to address shortcomings and gaps) – several already complete, several underway Upgrading our industrial classification to ANZSIC06

A few common issues: Resource constraints – specifically trying to produce an ever increasing and more detailed range of information from similar budget The (willing!) supply of information – Board has recently signed of our ‘Respondent Load Strategy’. Includes things such as: - demonstrating the value of official statistics to respondents - reducing compliance costs - improving the collection of data from largest enterprises - increased use of administrative data Dissemination – although we write for two specific audiences (public and professional) – in our Media Releases and Hot of the Press’s – we aren’t sure we know our audience or their needs… Generic Product Suite Project – identify audiences, assess their needs, and build products to meet them!

Trade specific topics: Remembering that trade team (not including BOP) has 10 people! Some ongoing and minor but crucial tasks have included: Full review/update of published tables Review of seasonally adjusted time series (and addition of some extra series) Addition of data by SITC (Rev 4) to our monthly publications Continued automation of processes

Trade specific topics: The bigger projects over the past two years were: The creation of a ‘trade by level of processing’ classification The introduction of selective editing The matching of trade data to our business frame