There are concerns scrapping the traditional census won't deliver the desired results. 

Stats NZ is moving to a system using Government collected admin-data, saying the current five yearly Census is financially unsustainable. 

Census-style questions will still be asked in much smaller annual surveys looking at a small fraction of the population. 

Former national statistician Len Cook told Mike Hosking data-wise, this won't cut it. 

He says admin-data comes from about a dozen different sources, none of them complete. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

There are concerns scrapping the traditional census won't deliver the desired results.&nbsp;
Stats NZ is moving to a system using Government collected admin-data, saying the current five yearly Census is financially unsustainable.&nbsp;
Census-style questions will still be asked in much smaller annual surveys looking at a small fraction of the population.&nbsp;
Former national statistician Len Cook told Mike Hosking data-wise, this won't cut it.&nbsp;
He says admin-data comes from about a dozen different sources, none of them complete.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

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The Mike Hosking Breakfast always cuts through and delivers the best daily on Newstalk ZB.

Open your mind to the world with New Zealand’s number one breakfast radio show. Without question, as New Zealand’s number one talk host, Mike Hosking sets the day’s agenda. The sharpest voice and mind in the business, Mike drives strong opinion, delivers the best talent, and always leaves you wanting more. The Mike Hosking Breakfast always cuts through and delivers the best daily on Newstalk ZB.

Open your mind to the world with New Zealand’s number one breakfast radio show.Without question, as New Zealand’s number one talk host, Mike Hosking sets the day’s agenda.The sharpest voice and mind in the business, Mike drives strong opinion,...

The Mike Hosking Breakfast

Len Cook: Former National Statistician on the 5-year Census being scrapped

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/02ed26ce-d456-484a-87f6-b30001539fd4/transcript

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday the 16th of November, our lamb sector could be about to have more tariff problems, plus we dissect the All Blacks' shocking loss.

Caretaker PM Chris Luxon tells Mike what he's been up to while the special votes are being counted, before he heads off to APEC tomorrow.

Andrew Saville and Jason Pine get angsty about the AB's loss and the Christchurch stadium cooling issue is back again after the football game.  

Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

LISTEN ABOVE

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Monday the 16th of November, our lamb sector could be about to have more tariff problems, plus we dissect the All Blacks' shocking loss.
Caretaker PM Chris Luxon tells Mike what he's been up to while the special votes are being counted, before he heads off to APEC tomorrow.
Andrew Saville and Jason Pine get angsty about the AB's loss and the Christchurch stadium cooling issue is back again after the football game. &nbsp;
Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.
LISTEN ABOVE

Full Show Podcast: 16 November 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/2f65963a-6dad-4531-af5f-b503014cf2d9/transcript

People may not remember, or indeed may not even realise, this station was once a part of Radio NZ.

I can tell you the Newstalk ZB of today is a world away from the ZB under Government ownership.

I can also tell you the Radio NZ that exists today, who I also worked for separately for several years before being sprung back to the real world, does not appear to be materially different at all.

Radio NZ, both commercially and non commercially, had a “gliding on” sort of feel to it.

People without a creative bone in their body found themselves at the top of the totem pole and almost continually ran the place like any other Government department, in that it was in a constant state of reconfiguration and restructuring due to their ineptitude.

The fact that in 2026 the current Radio NZ looks like the 1987 version is of course a scandal. Not an Nvidia sized scandal, but a scandal nevertheless given it is our money they are burning.

The CEO announced over the weekend it might be better if he left now. The fact it took him so long to work that out in a way tells you how he has run the joint; completely out of touch with the real world.

The outworkings of the various cock-ups are now well documented, but do give an insight into just what sort of mentality exists in the Government world of what passes for business.

Between Radio NZ, the Justice Ministry and MBIE, all of whom have been found shockingly wanting this year, you have all the evidence you need that overall they are fairly close to being useless, if not dangerous.

And its not just the uselessness, it's the lack of accountability. At least Nic Blakeley at MBIE on the tech project offered to quit. Brian Roche, the boss, said no, which is further insight into the mentality if you ask me.

The justice head flatly refused to own it last week and Paul Thompson of RNZ dumpty-doo'ed his way through it until it became farcical on Saturday.

The simple truth is the public service pays poorly and as a result you get middle managers elevated beyond their talent.

Fiefdoms, arrogance and incompetence in a cultural bubble-type operation devoid of accountability and removed from the real world.

A stick of dynamite is needed to start again.

The rot has well and truly set in.        

LISTEN ABOVE

People may not remember, or indeed may not even realise, this station was once a part of Radio NZ.
I can tell you the Newstalk ZB of today is a world away from the ZB under Government ownership.
I can also tell you the Radio NZ that exists today, who I also worked for separately for several years before being sprung back to the real world, does not appear to be materially different at all.
Radio NZ, both commercially and non commercially, had a “gliding on” sort of feel to it.
People without a creative bone in their body found themselves at the top of the totem pole and almost continually ran the place like any other Government department, in that it was in a constant state of reconfiguration and restructuring due to their ineptitude.
The fact that in 2026 the current Radio NZ looks like the 1987 version is of course a scandal. Not an Nvidia sized scandal, but a scandal nevertheless given it is our money they are burning.
The CEO announced over the weekend it might be better if he left now. The fact it took him so long to work that out in a way tells you how he has run the joint; completely out of touch with the real world.
The outworkings of the various cock-ups are now well documented, but do give an insight into just what sort of mentality exists in the Government world of what passes for business.
Between Radio NZ, the Justice Ministry and MBIE, all of whom have been found shockingly wanting this year, you have all the evidence you need that overall they are fairly close to being useless, if not dangerous.
And its not just the uselessness, it's the lack of accountability. At least Nic Blakeley at MBIE on the tech project offered to quit. Brian Roche, the boss, said no, which is further insight into the mentality if you ask me.
The justice head flatly refused to own it last week and Paul Thompson of RNZ dumpty-doo'ed his way through it until it became farcical on Saturday.
The simple truth is the public service pays poorly and as a result you get middle managers elevated beyond their talent.
Fiefdoms, arrogance and incompetence in a cultural bubble-type operation devoid of accountability and removed from the real world.
A stick of dynamite is needed to start again.
The rot has well and truly set in. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Mike's Minute: The rot in the public service

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/05f9ad61-b283-4096-bac5-b5030145642e/transcript

Andrew Saville and Jason Pine join Mike Hosking to review the Weekends' sport. 

On the table today: The All Blacks have suffered a shocking defeat to Wales, their first loss in the matchup for 73 years.

The Kiwis fumbled the final against Australia.

And the Black Caps failed to tie the ODI series against India.

LISTEN ABOVE

Andrew Saville and Jason Pine join Mike Hosking to review the Weekends' sport.&nbsp;
On the table today: The All Blacks have suffered a shocking defeat to Wales, their first loss in the matchup for 73 years.
The Kiwis fumbled the final against Australia.
And the Black Caps failed to tie the ODI series against India.
LISTEN ABOVE

Commentary Box: Andrew Saville and Jason Pine review the weekends' sports

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/abf63096-83d2-41ff-b060-b50301444ac0/transcript

Len Cook: Former National Statistician on the 5-year Census being scrapped

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