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Tokelau Statistician Says Data Gathering 'Crucial'
Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific Presenter/Bulletin Editor
A national survey is set to kick off in Tokelau later this year in an effort to measure the cost of living.
The non-self-governing territory of New Zealand's national statistician said the survey would ask questions like:
How much do you spend in one day?
How much do you spend on boat fares?
And, how much do you receive in remittances from your families overseas?
National statistician Malama Uain Kitiona knows it's a tough ask to give that information but said it's vital for the future of Tokelau that people do so.
"That's all data that it's very, very crucial," Kitiona told Atafu atoll's government media team.
"We really, really, really need your support. The information that we will ask you is very critical to our development."
He said people are also welcome to ask questions about the process.
Kitiona started out in Samoa's Finance Ministry (2006-2008) and joined the Bureau of Statistics before taking on his role in Tokelau.
He moved to Atafu atoll last week.
Kitiona said there is a global economic and also regional economic crisis, "and it would be very challenging for small island nations like us in a rising of inflation, the unemployment rate, even family incomes".
"It's becoming a challenging issue for some families, but this is the only way [to measure the impacts]".
In his address he also took the opportunity to try and try and inspire more youngsters to take on statistics as a profession.
There are only a few statisticians in Tokelau.
"Some people say, and I'm pretty sure they will tell you, it's a very boring job. You just sit your desk doing Excel, reading numbers, but those numbers are your guiding stars to the future."
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