8. Question No. 8—StatisticsDr JIAN YANG (National) to the Minister of StatisticsQuestion No. 8—Statistics8. Dr JIAN YANG (National) to the Minister of Statistics: Does he agree with the Census 2018 Independent Reviewers' conclusion that two of the four investment objectives were not met and the third is likely to be very challenging" and what responsibility if any will he take for the shortcomings of Census 2018?Hon JAMES SHAW (Minister of Statistics): In answer to the first part of the question yes. I note that the first investment objective is to undertake a census of population and dwellings in 2018 that meets statutory requirements and that the report finds that the census data is likely to meet all statutory requirements. In answer to the second part of the question I did specifically ask the independent reviewers to look into the role that I and other Ministers had in the census. The report found that there was "a level of optimism in the reporting to Ministers that was not always consistent with the level of issues being managed by the programme." This finding was recently corroborated in the media by the Hon Scott Simpson one of the previous Ministers of Statistics. I also agree with the reviewers that "it would be easy to conclude that the 2018 Census was not successful. However there are important aspects of the programme that surpassed expectations and can be used as building blocks for the future." [Interruption]SPEAKER: Order!Hon JAMES SHAW: Stats NZ have advised that the data will be of sufficient quality to meet the most important uses of the census. This includes—Brett Hudson: Rubbish.Hon JAMES SHAW: I guess the member doesn't believe the independent reviewer after all. This includes electoral boundaries population projections and district health board funding. The report of the independent panel upholds that advice. I therefore disagree with the member's assertion that the census was a failure. To characterise it as such is irresponsible and contrary to the truth.Dr Jian Yang: Can he claim to have been fully engaged in the successful transition to a digital first census when the only press release issued before Census 2018 was to express his disappointment that Census 2018 did not include gender and sexual identity questions?Hon JAMES SHAW: If he believes that the success of a census came down to ministerial press releases that might explain why the previous Government got it so wrong when it came to housing—if the number of press releases had something to do with the actual outcome.Dr Jian Yang: Would he still advise the Northern Age editor Peter Jackson to "stop believing everything that he sees on Twitter" when Mr Jackson said "This census shows all the hallmarks of being a shambles"?Hon JAMES SHAW: Actually yes because of the number of untruths that have been spoken about the census—in particular by members of the Opposition where they have actually given lie to their own decisions in the lead-up to the census—I would suggest that people should be wary of what they read in the media and on Twitter particularly those things that come from Opposition MPs when it comes to the census.Dr Jian Yang: Did he forward my report entitled Census 2018 – A multi-fold debacle to the Census 2018 independent reviewers and what other contribution if any did he make to the independent review's report?Hon JAMES SHAW: As soon as I was able to get a copy of the member's self-authored report I did forward it on to the independent review team and to the chief executive of Stats NZ for their edification; so they had the member's report for the entire time that they were developing their own independent report. In terms of other interactions that I had with the independent review team like I said right at the very start I specifically asked them to look into the role that I or any of the five previous Ministers of Statistics had to do with the 2018 census to see if there were failures of oversight and governance on behalf of Ministers. In addition I think I had perhaps three interviews with the census including a follow-up interview for clarification around some of the answers that were given. So I believe that all of the information that I was asked to provide by the independent review was provided to them."