Latest news with #Stats
Scoop
05-07-2025
- Business
- Scoop
How To Keep Your Power Bill Down This Winter
Twenty percent of Kiwis are struggling to pay their power bills, with 11 percent cutting back on heating their homes, according to Consumer New Zealand's latest energy survey. Stats NZ figures show the price of electricity has gone up almost 9 percent in the past year. Some people have told Checkpoint they are in bed by 5pm to save on heating costs, while others take extreme measures, like turning off their hot water cylinder or bathing in cold water. However, Consumer NZ Powerswitch manager Paul Fuge told Checkpoint people could make significant savings on their bill, if they cut back on their energy use. "Typically, we would say [you can save] around 20 percent, if you're really disciplined." He said the price of energy had increased significantly, resulting in more people getting into energy hardship and struggling to pay their power bills. "One in five have experienced financial difficulty in paying their power bill over the last year and around the same number basically missed a payment because of that. That results in late fees, so the issue compounds." The top household energy user was hot water, amounting to around 30 percent of an average home's electricity bill. Fuge said this was followed by refrigeration at 17 percent and space heating at 15 percent. "Those are the biggest things that use energy and offer the biggest potential to save money." He said the most effective way was to get onto a time-of-use plan, enabling energy usage at times of day when the price was cheaper. "The price of electricity is constantly changing and it's higher when more people are using electricity. "That's early morning, when people are getting up and getting ready for work, and in the evening, when people are coming home. That's the highest price of electricity on the wholesale market." At times, like the middle of the night, when there is less demand for power, the price falls. "Retailers take advantage of this and buy electricity at lower cost periods, and pass those savings on through time-of-use plans." He said this included keeping your hot water cylinder on a timer, heating it up in the middle of the night, when electricity is often half the price, and again in the middle of the day, another off-peak time. Not every hot water cylinder operates on a timer system, typically only newer models. Fuge said the age of appliances also had a significant impact on its efficiency. "Modern appliances are much more efficient than the old ones, particularly things like fridges, but also hot water cylinders." While some may be tempted to power off the hot water cylinder completely to save costs, Fuge warned strongly against it. "We would not recommend doing that at all, because you can get diseases in the hot water cylinder, when the water's not hot enough, particularly legionnaires' disease, which sort of thrives in those warm stagnant water temperatures." He said another key energy drainer was the 'beer fridge'. "Modern fridges are way more efficient than the old fridges and that's a real saving. "We stick that old fridge at the bach or out in the shed, so you get an old inefficient appliance in an environment that it's not designed for and it's a perfect storm of badness in terms of electricity consumption." Fuge said, while the key way to save was a time-of-use plan, it wouldn't suit every household's needs perfectly. "If you can use those high-consumption appliances away from peak times and move them into cheaper times, there's some potential savings there, but I would caution that it requires discipline and it doesn't suit all households."
Otago Daily Times
04-07-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Tips to keep your power bill down this winter
Twenty percent of Kiwis are struggling to pay their power bills, with 11 percent cutting back on heating their homes, according to Consumer New Zealand's latest energy survey. Stats NZ figures show the price of electricity has gone up almost 9 percent in the past year. Some people have told Checkpoint they are in bed by 5pm to save on heating costs, while others take extreme measures, like turning off their hot water cylinder or bathing in cold water. However, Consumer NZ Powerswitch manager Paul Fuge told Checkpoint people could make significant savings on their bill, if they cut back on their energy use. "Typically, we would say [you can save] around 20 percent, if you're really disciplined." He said the price of energy had increased significantly, resulting in more people getting into energy hardship and struggling to pay their power bills. "One in five have experienced financial difficulty in paying their power bill over the last year and around the same number basically missed a payment because of that. That results in late fees, so the issue compounds." The top household energy user was hot water, amounting to around 30 percent of an average home's electricity bill. Fuge said this was followed by refrigeration at 17 percent and space heating at 15 percent. "Those are the biggest things that use energy and offer the biggest potential to save money." He said the most effective way was to get on to a time-of-use plan, enabling energy usage at times of day when the price was cheaper. "The price of electricity is constantly changing and it's higher when more people are using electricity. "That's early morning, when people are getting up and getting ready for work, and in the evening, when people are coming home. That's the highest price of electricity on the wholesale market." At times, like the middle of the night, when there is less demand for power, the price falls. "Retailers take advantage of this and buy electricity at lower cost periods, and pass those savings on through time-of-use plans." He said this included keeping your hot water cylinder on a timer, heating it up in the middle of the night, when electricity is often half the price, and again in the middle of the day, another off-peak time. Not every hot water cylinder operates on a timer system, typically only newer models. Fuge said the age of appliances also had a significant impact on its efficiency. "Modern appliances are much more efficient than the old ones, particularly things like fridges, but also hot water cylinders." While some may be tempted to power off the hot water cylinder completely to save costs, Fuge warned strongly against it. "We would not recommend doing that at all, because you can get diseases in the hot water cylinder, when the water's not hot enough, particularly legionnaires' disease, which sort of thrives in those warm stagnant water temperatures." He said another key energy drainer was the 'beer fridge'. "Modern fridges are way more efficient than the old fridges and that's a real saving. "We stick that old fridge at the bach or out in the shed, so you get an old inefficient appliance in an environment that it's not designed for and it's a perfect storm of badness in terms of electricity consumption." Fuge said, while the key way to save was a time-of-use plan, it wouldn't suit every household's needs perfectly. "If you can use those high-consumption appliances away from peak times and move them into cheaper times, there's some potential savings there, but I would caution that it requires discipline and it doesn't suit all households."
Scoop
26-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Are Coffee Prices Heading Down? Don't Hold Your Breath
Global coffee prices might have fallen but there's a warning that it might not mean you pay any less in your local cafe. RaboResearch data shows arabica coffee prices dropped 17 percent in the last three months and robusta, often used to make instant coffee, dropped 30 percent. It said this was due to improved production forecasts and diminishing demand. Global coffee demand is expected to drop 0.5 percent in 2025. A surplus of 1.4 million bags is projected for the 2025/26 year, primarily in arabicas. RaboResearch then also forecasts a much bigger surplus the following year, particularly if Brazilian weather is normal. Infometrics chief executive Brad Olsen said the price declines were encouraging but did not necessarily mean New Zealanders would see coffee prices fall. "Given the full increase in global coffee prices hasn't fully hit Kiwis' morning caffeine hit yet there might not be real relief for New Zealand coffee prices." He said while World Bank data showed arabica coffee prices were down 3.1 percent in May from the peak in February they were still 2.3 times the May 2019 price. Robusta was down 9.8 percent from the peak but the same margin up on 2019. "Stats NZ data shows that instant coffee prices in May 2025 were 14 percent higher than a year ago, and only 36 percent higher than in 2019 - so less than a tenth of global coffee price pressure has hit directly. With not as much of the original hit from coffee prices hitting local prices, we might not see a lot of relief. If anything, forward ordering of coffee means we might still see further price increases trickle through as beans are imported after being ordered before recent price falls. "Café operators have clearly been trying to absorb as much of coffee price rises as they can to limit how many people might stop buying at higher prices. Stats NZ data also shows takeaway coffee prices are up just 3.8 percent per year in May, despite the large increases in both coffee and dairy prices, suggesting cafes are taking the hit on their margins rather than pass price increases on as much." Café and roastery owner Richard Corney, of Flight Coffee and The Hangar, has been warning that retail coffee prices are unsustainably low. He said if prices had kept up with the increase in café costs in recent years, a flat white would be selling for $7.
The Spinoff
18-06-2025
- Business
- The Spinoff
Census scrapped as Stats NZ eyes cheaper data future
The government has announced a major overhaul of population data collection, but experts say the new approach carries serious risks, writes Catherine McGregor in today's extract from The Bulletin. See ya, census After nearly 175 years, New Zealand's national census is coming to an end, reports Kelly Dennett in The Post (paywalled). Statistics minister Shane Reti confirmed that the five-yearly population count will be replaced with an annual survey model from 2030, which will mainly rely on data already collected by government agencies, known in the trade as administrative data. Reti says the move reflects the need for more timely and cost-effective insights, pointing to the $325 million cost of the 2023 census and an expected $400m for the next. Under the new model, a smaller sample survey will be combined with existing government datasets – from tax records to school enrolments – to produce population statistics on an annual basis. Reti described the overhaul as a reset of Stats NZ's priorities, saying it would 'get back to basics – measuring what matters'. He also provided details of the plan to start delivering a monthly Consumer Price Index from 2027, which was announced in Budget 2025. The government will invest $16.5 million to adjust the CPI from quarterly to monthly, 'bringing New Zealand into line with other advanced economies'. A troubled recent history The census has played a central role in shaping New Zealand's social and political landscape since 1851, albeit one that initially excluded Māori. But its recent history has been plagued by controversy. The failed digital-first approach of the 2018 census produced the lowest response rates in decades, especially among Māori and Pasifika, and government statistician Liz MacPherson resigned amid the fallout. Five years later, the 2023 census saw a marginally improved response, but was marred by a data breach involving subcontracted collectors at Manurewa Marae. A public apology followed, and chief executive Mark Sowden stepped down. The repeated controversies have shaken confidence in the census, laying the groundwork for its eventual demise. Bridging the trust deficit Despite a 99.1% total population coverage in 2023 thanks to the inclusion of administrative data, the census response rate sat at just 88.3% – well below the 95.1% recorded in 2006. So-called 'hard refusals' more than doubled from 2018 to over 10,000 in 2023, with anti-government sentiment cited by over a quarter of those refusing to participate, reported Laura Walters in Newsroom. 'People are busier… there is suspicion about giving their data to Government Inc,' Sowden told a select committee last year. The anti-government sentiment was likely magnified by the 2022 Parliament protest and the proximity of the Covid-19 pandemic, he said. The huge increase in cost between the 2018 census ($123m) and the 2023 version ($326m) was directly attributable to the challenges of getting people to take part, Sowden said. Stats NZ needed to double the number of field workers, and did about five times as much community engagement. Though Stats NZ has legal powers to fine non-compliers, it chose not to issue infringement notices in 2023, citing resource constraints. A bold experiment with high stakes Writing in Newsroom, former government statistician Len Cook warns that the shift to a survey-based model carries serious risks. Unlike countries such as the Netherlands or Israel, which use surveys alongside compulsory population registration, New Zealand has never maintained a formal population register and does not issue identity cards. As a result, Stats NZ will struggle to ensure data quality is maintained – yet it's vitally important that the government has the demographic data it needs. Leaving policy settings as they are in the face of falling fertility and rising life expectancy 'will have the same effect as a fall in government revenue of more than 30% by 2045', Cook warns. 'Almost all publicly funded services will face pressures of a far greater magnitude than we are currently seeing. Without regular knowledge we can trust, we will have little information to plan with.'
1News
17-06-2025
- Business
- 1News
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. He said the new approach will harness administrative data already collected by government agencies as the primary source of population statistics. This data – including tax records, education enrolments, or health data – is already used regularly to produce some statistics. A smaller annual survey and targeted data collection will verify the data quality and fill gaps, with Stats NZ to work closely with communities to ensure accurate representation of minorities. ADVERTISEMENT Reti said the approach will save time and money while delivering more timely insights into New Zealand's population, adding that relying on a nationwide census day was "no longer financially viable". The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, including Auckland's supermarket fire, Trump's threat to Iran, and how a smart watch could make you fitter. (Source: 1News) In 2013, the census cost $104 million. A decade later, costs had risen to $325 million, with the next census projected to cost $400 million. "Despite the unsustainable and escalating costs, successive censuses have been beset with issues or failed to meet expectations," Reti said. "By leveraging data already collected by government agencies, we can produce key census statistics every year, better informing decisions that affect people's lives." Statistics Minister Shane Reti. (Source: Getty) Reti also said the Government will also spend $16.5 million to introduce a monthly Consumer Price Index (CPI) from 2027, which will measure inflation for New Zealand households by recording changes in the price of goods and service. ADVERTISEMENT The CPI will provide more timely inflation data to help the Government and Reserve Bank respond quickly to cost-of-living pressures and bring the country in line with other advanced economies, he said. "Inflation affects interest rates, benefit adjustments, and household budgets. Timely data helps ensure Kiwis are better supported in a fast-changing environment." Stats NZ will also be allocated funding to align its reporting with updated international macroeconomic standards. "Modern, internationally aligned statistics will support trade and investment, helping drive economic growth and job creation," Reti said, adding that the changes represented a "broader reset" for Stats NZ. "Some outputs have not met the standard expected of a world-class statistics agency. We're getting back to basics – measuring what matters. Our goal is a modern, efficient, and reliable data system that delivers the insights New Zealand needs now and into the future." Meanwhile, the Guardian has reported that plans to scrap the 2031 census in England and Wales have been overturned amid a backlash from statisticians over plans to replace it with alternative sources of data. They were concerned about the feasibility and cost of bringing together different datasets that may have been collected in different ways.
