Measuring New Zealand’s performance
22 Mar 2010
New Zealand will be given a comprehensive assessment of its social, economic, and environmental performance when the New Zealand Institute introduces the NZahead website at the end of the month.
NZahead brings together 16 key measures of how we are doing as a country, and then gives an overall mark for ‘Effort’ and ‘Achievement’. It will be launched in Auckland on 31 March.
Dr Rick Boven, Director of the Institute, says that while there might be a light-hearted element to the idea of a whole country receiving a report card like a student, there is a serious side to the project.
“If we’re going to make good choices about our future as a country, we need to have an informed debate about how we’re really doing in the things that really matter. This is one of our most important contributions to informing that debate.”
NZahead will be introduced at a time when measuring the performance of public services such as health and education is making headlines. Dr Boven recognises that choosing what is measured and how performance is assessed can be highly-charged decisions.
“Our objective is not to embarrass or upset anyone. We have selected 16 measures which we believe give an accurate Big Picture view of our country’s long-term performance. And we will take the next step of saying what we think about that performance. Whether or not people agree or disagree with our 16 measures or our assessment, I hope they will feel better able to talk about the issues with their families, friends and workmates.”
Dr Boven says that selecting the 16 measures was a very challenging process. “We wanted to find the right balance between capturing enough information to make broad judgments about New Zealand’s performance, without capturing so much that we would be drowning in detail. Of course we prefer that the figures are reliable and accurate, and ideally cover a long time period so that we can see trends and spot connections. One of the challenges was that there is little information on some measures we think are very important.”
He says that the NZahead team are both nervous and excited as the launch date approaches. “We know there will be intense scrutiny of how we’ve chosen the measures and presented the data. We‘ve had the debates inside the Institute, and with some of the experts, and we’re looking forward to hearing other people’s views.
A report card should be the beginning of a conversation, not the end. There are some who might feel relief to reach the launch, but the work is not over as the discussion is just getting started.”
-ENDS-
For more information contact:
Lisa Bailey
09 309 6230