The Review of Statistics New Zealand and its Future Contribution to Official Statistics (the Top Down Review) recommended the identification of a set of key official statistics that are performance measures of New Zealand. These are known as Tier 1 statistics that:
- are essential to central government decision making
- are of high public interest
- need to meet public expectations of impartiality and high statistical quality
- require long-term continuity of data
- provide international comparability in a global environment or meet international statistical obligations
- align with the Tier 1 statistics principles and protocols.
View or download a list of Tier 1 statistics (PDF, 148KB).
Tier 1 statistics by subject
Principles and protocols for producers of Tier 1 statistics
The work of agencies that produce official statistics is guided by the Statistics Act 1975, as well as by other legislation. This includes the Privacy Act 1993, the Official Information Act 1982 and the Public Records Act 2005. The United Nations Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics is another key source of guidance.
This statement of the key principles and protocols embodies the key aspects of the Statistics Act and United Nations principles and the high-level standards. They apply to all Tier 1 statistics. Other statistics have a role in the Official Statistics System and the application of the principles to all official statistics is encouraged.
The development of these principles and protocols has been coordinated by Statistics New Zealand in consultation with Tier 1 producing agencies.
Principles and Protocols for Producers of Tier 1 statistics (PDF, 778KB)