Statistics New Zealand leads work on monitoring sustainable development in New Zealand. In August 2002, that agency published the first report on national sustainable development indicators – 'Monitoring Progress Towards a Sustainable New Zealand'. This was the first time indicators covering economic, social, environmental and cultural spheres had been brought together and reported on in New Zealand.
Statistics New Zealand recently published a second national sustainable development report based on a new set of national sustainable development indicators that adhere to international best practice. The report – 'Measuring New Zealand’s Progress Using a Sustainable Development Approach: 2008' – consists of 85 indicators across 15 topics: population; biodiversity; air and atmosphere; water; land use; energy; transport; waste; innovation; work, knowledge and skills; economic resilience; living conditions; health; social connection and governance; and culture and identity. Thirty-nine of the 85 indicators are related to the environment.
As the custodian of national environmental indicators in New Zealand, the Ministry provides support to Statistics New Zealand’s sustainable development reporting programme.
To that end, the Ministry was a key contributor to Statistics New Zealand’s 2002 report, and supported the development of both the new sustainable development indicators and the second national report.
Last updated: 21 August 2009