Collaboration and cooperation: the key to reaching out.

Statistics New Zealand produces and disseminates national statistics so is interested in the statistical capability of key groups of user such as government; the media and Maori (indigenous New Zealanders). In 2006 a network of academics in official statistics (NAOS) was established and its members have presented short courses for government staff (on ethics and legislation, interpreting opinion polls and demography) and actively contributed to the design and delivery of formal qualifications including the Certificate of Official Statistics and an honours/ masters paper in official statistics. This paper will be taught simultaneously to students in at least three universities by individuals from five separate institutions using video-conferencing facilities. The collaborative process and the key roles of the national statistics association in forming collegial relationships and the national statistics office in facilitating between-university cooperation are discussed.