Tokelau Statistics Secondment Successful
29 April 2015
The secondment arrangement of a Statistics Advisor to the Tokelau National Statistics Office, with Statistics New Zealand, is being called a success by the Government of Tokelau.
The arrangement was possible because of a strong relationship with New Zealand. It has seen Tokelau’s National Statistics Office being established, and get operative. It is now further exploring ways to build capacity to strengthen the unit.
“The secondment arrangement had two main focuses: one was to establish the statistics office which has been successfully completed. The first secondee, Charlie Russell, has worked on the rules, policy and structure and how to do things in the office. He also started calculating the quarterly Consumer Price Index for Tokelau,” says the proud National Statistician, Kele Lui.
The successor secondee, Jaap Jasperse, is continuing the CPI work that began two and a half years ago. He is also putting in place a Household Income and Expenditure Survey.
The next focus is to build capacity. There may be an opportunity in the new financial year to employ an apprentice statistician from Tokelau.
“Our focus has been on the Census, CPI, and HIES with external advice. But the only way to build capacity is to employ local staff. We are hoping to find good young people with qualifications who can commit themselves to the task”, Kele Lui said.
The secondment arrangement of a Statistics Advisor to the Tokelau National Statistics Office, with Statistics New Zealand, is being called a success by the Government of Tokelau.
The arrangement was possible because of a strong relationship with New Zealand. It has seen Tokelau’s National Statistics Office being established, and get operative. It is now further exploring ways to build capacity to strengthen the unit.
“The secondment arrangement had two main focuses: one was to establish the statistics office which has been successfully completed. The first secondee, Charlie Russell, has worked on the rules, policy and structure and how to do things in the office. He also started calculating the quarterly Consumer Price Index for Tokelau,” says the proud National Statistician, Kele Lui.
The successor secondee, Jaap Jasperse, is continuing the CPI work that began two and a half years ago. He is also putting in place a Household Income and Expenditure Survey.
The next focus is to build capacity. There may be an opportunity in the new financial year to employ an apprentice statistician from Tokelau.
“Our focus has been on the Census, CPI, and HIES with external advice. But the only way to build capacity is to employ local staff. We are hoping to find good young people with qualifications who can commit themselves to the task”, Kele Lui said.