Key slippery on the Stats
Statistics Minister Darren Hughes is critical of John Key’s so-called mastery of statistics.
“His performance today means he probably wouldn’t get a job at Statistics NZ, as a rudimentary knowledge of consistent
numbers is needed.”
The National leader used a speech today to criticise the increased numbers of public servants who work to implement and
support government policies such as KiwiSaver, 20 free hours of early childhood education and Working for Families.
“Mr Key chose to criticise Statistics New Zealand for an increased number of staff in 2006. Funnily enough, in a Census
year more staff are required to ensure the integrity of the project. If he had bothered to check, he would have seen
that the number of fulltime equivalent staff at Statistics NZ fell the following year.
“Being slippery with stats will only last a while, people end up seeing right through it,” said Darren Hughes.
ends