Latest news with #ShaneReti
Hans India
2 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
FM Sitharaman meets key leaders in Spain to boost bilateral relations
Seville (Spain): Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had several bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the International Business Forum Leadership Summit here, where she discussed cooperation in mutual areas of interest in defence, education, technology and agriculture, among other sectors. She met Dr Shane Reti, Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology, Universities, Statistics and Pacific Peoples, New Zealand. Both ministers discussed cooperation in mutual areas of interest in defence, education, technology and agriculture, and shared values rooted in democracy, rule of law, and robust people-to-people ties. The Finance Minister discussed the world-class opportunities available at GIFT-IFSC in terms of banking, bullion exchange, capital markets, funds ecosystem, FinTech, insurers and reinsurers. 'She noted educational exchange as a cornerstone of India-New Zealand relationship with many Indian students pursuing higher education in New Zealand,' according to a post on X by Finance Ministry. Dr Reti agreed to the need for enhancing education sector ties bilaterally, and also shared New Zealand's experience in engaging with the Pacific. The Finance Minister highlighted India's strong partnership with Pacific Island Countries, and looked forward to enhancing engagement along with New Zealand through the Pacific Islands Forum. She also met Elmer Schialer Salcedo, Foreign Minister of Peru, on the sidelines of the 'FFD4' meeting. The two leaders discussed deepening strategic partnerships across FinTech, trade, investment, mining and defence, as well as the potential for collaboration in infrastructure projects, particularly the railways, according to an official statement. FM Sitharaman highlighted India's expertise in building rail links and manufacturing of rolling stock. Salcedo said that he looked forward to India's participation in international bids for three rail links being developed in Peru. The Finance Minister shared India's interest in diversifying exports to Peru, especially in automobiles, pharmaceuticals, textiles, engineering goods, and IT services; and valued imports of critical minerals such as copper and lithium from Peru - a potential key for India's energy transition and industrial growth. She met Germany's Development Minister Reem Alabali Radovan and congratulated her on her recent appointment as Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development. They discussed various mutual areas of collaboration under India-Germany Green and Sustainable Development Partnership including green and renewable energy, urban mobility and sustainable urban development; and sustainable livelihoods through ecology. Alabali-Radovan looked forward to strengthening bilateral relations with India and stated that Germany would like to have greater cooperation with India, said the Ministry.
Newsroom
2 days ago
- Science
- Newsroom
Science sector merged but funding gaps remain
A seismic shift in New Zealand's science system likened by critics to 'rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic' will not reach its full potential without new money to back up the changes, scientists say. Leaders of the new Public Research Organisations, Science and Technology Minister Shane Reti and the co-president for the New Zealand Association of Scientists all agree that the shakeup will bring some quick wins to efficiency and commercial viability, but not everyone is as optimistic about the funding allocated to the initiative.
Otago Daily Times
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Counting on the census
One of the great pillars on which modern New Zealand society is based has been scrapped by the government in a move which has shocked many. The five-yearly, or thereabouts, census has seemingly had its day, Statistics Minister Shane Reti reckons. He announced on Wednesday that New Zealanders had, for the last time, needed to scurry about looking for a pen to fill out the forms or pray that the more recently online documents would work as intended. Citing the need to save time and money, Dr Reti signalled the census will be replaced with "a smaller annual survey and targeted data collection". This will, according to the somewhat breathless Beehive media release, provide better quality economic data to underpin the government's "growth agenda". In line with this thinking, there will be no census in 2028, with the new approach starting in 2030. The new method of collecting nationwide statistics will sharpen the focus on delivering "more timely insights into New Zealand's population", the minister reckons. Good luck with that. While we should not automatically kibosh something before it has had a chance to prove its worth, it is difficult to see how what may effectively be a scattergun approach will be superior to the system which has developed over more than 170 years. The census has, of course, never been perfect. There were well-publicised issues with the 2018 and 2023 counts, and the five-yearly spacing has been interrupted several times, due to such events as the Depression, World War 2 and the Christchurch earthquake in February 2011. There were also concerns about the robustness of responses when the 2023 census was held the month after Cyclone Gabrielle. Dr Reti also has some justification for being concerned about the cost of the census, which has ballooned during the past decade. According to government figures, the 2013 census cost $104 million, but outlay for the 2023 one was $325m, and the now-ditched 2028 one was expected to cost around $400m. The huge leap in price is certainly concerning. Based on those government numbers, there can be no doubt running a census is a very expensive business. However, we need to remember, and perhaps remind the government, that the policies which are meant to benefit everyone across the country in healthcare, education, housing, transport and so on, actually cost many billions of dollars. The price-tag for a census which informs those policies is definitely not chicken feed, but money generally well-spent. Reaction to this week's announcement has largely been negative and expressing surprise at the move. There is particular concern about how cherry-picking data and using smaller sample sets will affect the rigour of information about Māori and Pasifika communities, and also people with disabilities, rainbow communities, and smaller ethnic groups. Dr Reti's promised land of a "sharpened focus on quality" when it comes to statistics will be extremely difficult to achieve. There are crucial questions to answer around how people's existing data within government agencies will be appropriately and sensitively used, who decides what to use and when, and who will oversee the process to make sure it is as comprehensive and fair as such a potentially fraught new system can be. We are uneasy that this move appears to be another example of this government not being especially interested in the science or data necessary for good decision-making and for making policy which is evidence-based, instead careening ever-more wildly across the political landscape in pursuit of zealotry-driven outcomes. We unapologetically support the census system we had, and believe in the provision of proper statistical data sets for modern-day needs and as a source of valuable information for the historians of the future Beware the old saying: "Garbage in, garbage out."
1News
18-06-2025
- Business
- 1News
Five Big Things That Happened Today: Wednesday, June 18
Supermarket on fire in Auckland, Trump departs G7 early due to Middle East conflict, butter and milk drive the annual food price increase. 1 Medsafe approves sale of melatonin and prescribing magic mushrooms Relief is on the way for Kiwis struggling with insomnia and treatment-resistant depression, with Medsafe approving the sale of over-the-counter melatonin and the prescription of medicinal psilocybin. Melatonin – used to treat insomnia and jet lag – would be available for purchase in pharmacies without a prescription in due course. Read More ADVERTISEMENT 2 Five-yearly census to be scrapped New Zealand will scrap the traditional nationwide five-yearly census from 2030 in lieu of a system that uses existing government data, smaller annual surveys, and targeted data collection. Monthly inflation reporting would also begin from 2027 to provide more frequent and up-to-date economic data, Statistics Minister Shane Reti announced today. Read More 3 Hamilton mayor says Chiefs fans will 'bring the volume' despite cowbells ban Hamilton Mayor Paula Southgate said Chiefs fans are 'disappointed' at the news cowbells would be banned at the Super Rugby final between the Crusaders and Chiefs this Saturday, but it wouldn't stop them making a din. Yesterday, it was announced cowbells would be banned from the final. Cowbells are synonymous with Waikato rugby, which fans of the region have long used to show support. ADVERTISEMENT Read More 4 'Confronting scene' inside burnt New World Foodstuffs says it will take time to determine when a fire-ravaged Auckland CBD supermarket may reopen, as they grapple with the "confronting scene" inside. Fire crews completed thermal imaging of New World Victoria Park this morning, confirming no remaining hot spots before handing the building back to the owners. Read More 5 Greazy Dogs MC gang drug bust: Police seize $1.5m in assets A "significant blow" has been dealt to drug supply and manufacture by the Greazy Dogs MC this week, police say. ADVERTISEMENT Police arrested several members and associates of the gang, and restrained more than $1.5 million in assets. Read More Watch: Tennis star reveals impact of horrific social media abuse British number two Katie Boulter had just lost a tie-break at the French Open when the death threats started. The International Tennis Federation reports 458 tennis players received thousands of abusive public messages last year. Watch Here ONE EXERCISE TRICK A UK study found exercisers using smartwatches were 10 times more likely to start a programme and seven times more likely to stick with it. Read More
RNZ News
18-06-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Five-yearly Census to be scrapped from 2030, replaced with administrative data, annual surveys
The Census has been taken in the same format for more than 70 years, but those days are over. Photo: RNZ New Zealanders have filled out their last traditional Census form, with the five-yearly count scrapped from 2030. Statistics Minister Shane Reti announced today that the Census - which has existed in a similar format for more than 70 years - will be replaced with a combination of administrative data from other government agencies and smaller annual surveys that a sample of the population will complete. There will be no 2028 Census. The announcement was made just as England and Wales looks set to abandon a similar approach for their 2031 Census, with the UK Statistical Agency recommending that a traditional Census go ahead instead . Reti said he was confident the approach would work in New Zealand. "Amongst other things, we've got a smaller population so it's a smaller problem to grapple with," he said. Stats NZ, which governs the Census, said there would be a lot of work over the next five years to ensure the administrative data it will rely on is up to scratch. Acting chief statistician Mary Craig said the agency was already working with other government departments. "Some of the Census data is almost at the level we will need it, and others not so much," she said. "There's a level of data from everybody, but does it actually have all the attributes that we would need for this type of exercise? No." The change follows a major review carried out last year , after the 2023 Census. Reti said the traditional Census was "no longer financially viable". "Despite the unsustainable and escalating costs, successive censuses have been beset with issues or failed to meet expectations," he said. An attempt to shift the Census online in 2018 was a failure, with much lower than normal completion rates that affected Māori particularly badly . The fallout prompted the chief statistician to resign, and the 2023 Census was shifted back to a paper form. However, completion rates were still lower than previous years, with only 88 percent of the population filling out and returning the 2023 form. The Census does more than just provide interesting insights into how New Zealand is changing - it serves some crucial democratic functions. It helps to determine how and where government funding is spent for basic services and infrastructure like hospitals and schools, now and in the future . The population count also determines how many electorates there are, and where their boundaries should be drawn. The Census is also the only nation-wide survey of housing conditions - collecting information on the size of each dwelling, the number of people living there, and which basic services like internet are available. Reti said not only would the new approach save time and money, it would also provide "more timely insights" into New Zealand's population. The most recent Census cost $325 million, and the data analysis involved meant the first results were not released until mid-2024. "By leveraging data already collected by government agencies, we can produce key census statistics every year, better informing decisions that affect people's lives," Reti said. A Census has been held in New Zealand every five years since 1851, with only a few exceptions - most recently following the 2011 Christchurch earthquake. This will be the biggest change to how the Census is conducted since 1951, when the same Census form was filled out by Māori and European New Zealanders for the first time. Administrative data would form the "backbone" of the new system, with surveys - which will begin in 2027 - helping to fill in data gaps, especially for smaller populations. The administrative data used would include information from tax records, education enrolments, health data, student loans and allowances and ACC injury claims. Some statisticians and demographers have warned that any move away from a traditional Census that attempts to count and survey the entire population will need to be done carefully and transparently. Last year, a group of senior researchers at the Public Health Communications Centre - many of whom rely on Census data for their work - said there was a role for administrative data. However, it had been shown to "not be up to the task in many areas, such as understanding households or people's health and well-being, compared with survey data", they wrote . Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
