5 July 2002 Media Statement
Maharey confirms unemployment statistics release date already set
Social Services and Employment Minister Steve Maharey confirmed that he had been advised by Statistics New Zealand that
it would independently release the results of June 2002 Household Labour Force Survey – New Zealand’s official
unemployment rate – on August 8.
Steve Maharey was responding to calls by Wairarapa Christian Heritage Party candidate Merepeka Raukawa-Tait to release
new unemployment statistics before the general election.
He said he was prevented by the Statistics Act from intervening in the release schedule.
The Household Labour Force Survey is released every quarter. Results for the last quarter (March 2002) were released by
Statistics New Zealand on 9 May 2002 and showed unempolyment rate at 5.3% - the lowest rate in 14 years.
ENDS