Are Helen Clark and her Labour Government "Mugabe like", as the Maori Party contends she is?
Statistics NZ has been labelled threatening and heavy-handed by one respondent, who was sent a highlighted copy of the Statistics Act penalties schedule when he complained and tried to quit.
In 2002, 22,000 people were randomly selected to take part in the Statistics NZ Survey of Family, Income and Employment.
Wairarapa graphic artist Alistair Hughes has taken part for six years, but he and his wife asked to be excused last year as they thought the survey had become an offensive invasion of privacy. They were asked detailed questions relating to their income and expenditure, personal health and what surgery they might have had.
Statistics NZ wrote back telling Mr Hughes he was legally obliged to complete the survey, "though it is important we gain the cooperation of all those selected to take part", the letter said.
The highlighted penalty schedule was attached.
Standard of living manager Andrea Blackburn said though some people were reluctant to take part in the survey, they eventually agreed and there had been no prosecutions to date.
"Most people are willing to complete surveys once their value to New Zealand is explained," she said.
The survey is the first nationally representative, long-term study done in New Zealand. It was done randomly to ensure an even spread of respondents.
Mrs Blackburn said the data provided a valuable picture of changes in Kiwis' economic wellbeing. It was used to plan a range of issues - from retirement planning and programmes that helped move people into work, to determining levels of support for families and children.
"Used to plan a range of issues"?
When did anything the Government "plan" go right
Standard of living manager Andrea Blackburn said though some people were reluctant to take part in the survey, they eventually agreed and there had been no prosecutions to date.
New Zealand has a "standard of living" manager? WTF?
I wonder Andrea if a criminal prosecution and a large fine might have something to do with the zero prosecution rate.
This is the sort of nonsense we can do without, an extension of nanny State that serves no purpose and clearly hasn't been of any benefit so far as the results of the survey seem to have led to increased welfare, poorer education, increases in crime, a crumbling health system and a whole lot of other government planning stuff that simply doesn't work.
It does work well in one of its key objectives though.
It interferes in peoples lives where government is not wanted or needed.
c Political Animal 2008
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