Statistics NZ resume data releases following delay caused by earthquakes

Statistics NZ has resumed data releases this week, following a delay in releases due to the 7.8 earthquake in the South Island on 14 November.

The earthquake also caused damaged to the organisation's Wellington office, Statistics House. Statistics NZ Wellington staff are unable to return to the office, the organisation says.

In the meantime, some Statistics NZ staff will go into a temporary office in the HP Building in Gilmer Terrace in Wellington. More staff will move into other floors in the same building over coming weeks, and Statistics NZ is currently negotiating for more space in a nearby building.

Statistics NZ says recent media reports that Statistics House being demolished are completely false.

"With a government inquiry announced and engineering reports underway the reality is that we have no idea what the future holds for Statistics House," the organisation says.

While there will be a delay to some upcoming releases, but Statistics NZ says staff are working hard to minimise the impact.

"We apologise for the delay to releases in the past few days and regret any inconvenience caused. We have not lost any data but a number of our systems need to be brought back up to restore all our services," it says.

The following services are not currently available:

· NZ.Stat

· StatsMaps

· Datainfo+

· IDI and Data Labs

· QuicksSats about a place.

"We will provide further updates about the release calendar and our alternative offices, as information comes to hand.