Guest Work

Mass overdose planned

Guest Author • Jan 28, 2010

• Homeopathy,
• Skeptics NZ

By Vicki Hyde On January 30, a concerted global mass overdose will take place, but no-one will die because the “medication” of choice will be homeopathic. Homeopathic medicine consists of water or water dripped onto sugar tablets; the UK-based 1023 campaign aims to highlight that fact and protest against pharmacies touting such a product as medicinal. To mark the … Read More

Summer of stats part 7- margins of error

Guest Author • Jan 25, 2010

• averages,
• margin of error,
• polling,
• Statistics New Zealand

Then there’s the story about the man with his head in the oven and his legs in the freezer. He reckoned he’d be fine - his average temperature was about normal. Read More

Summer of stats part 6 – Why are they coming here?

Guest Author • Jan 10, 2010

• customs,
• Statistics New Zealand,
• Travel

When a planeload of 300 travellers stumble blearily from Customs into the international lounge, about 150 of them are starting their New Zealand holiday. Half of international visitors are here for a holiday A hundred will be greeted by friends and relatives – depending on how it goes they could be on holiday too. The … Read More

Summer of stats part 5 – Where are we travelling?

Guest Author • Jan 06, 2010

• Statistics New Zealand,
• Travel

A running series from Statistics New Zealand helping us make sense of the Food Price Index and the Consumers Price Index… In 2009 we made fewer overseas trips than in the previous years, but numbers going to Australia dropped only a little and we’re still travelling more than we did in 2006. New Zealanders make almost two million overseas trips … Read More

You might fall in love this summer – with a sea-monster

Guest Author • Jan 04, 2010

• marine science,
• NIWA,
• sea horse

An article from a summer series outlining the work of marine scientists published by NIWA. This summer, watch out when snorkelling around the New Zealand coastline, for our very own sea monster: Hippocampus abdominalis, the pot-bellied sea horse. ’Fully grown sea horses can be found at a depth of 5—10 metres, often amongst seaweeds, and are most active at … Read More

Summer of stats part 4 – Summer travel

Guest Author • Jan 04, 2010

• Statistics New Zealand,
• Travel

A running series from Statistics New Zealand helping us make sense of the Food Price Index and the Consumers Price Index… December is a busy travel month New Zealanders seem to have an annual urge to keep in touch, regardless of distance. If 2009 was anything like 2008, about 200,000 Kiwis were coming or going during … Read More

science and health degrees earn graduates more

Peter Griffin • Jan 03, 2010

• degrees,
• education,
• Health,
• Salaries,
• Science

The Sunday Star Times has compiled a table (see below) of university degrees and what graduates from these degrees can expect to earn after a year and three years in the workforce respectively. Not surprisingly, science, health and engineering graduates have much better earning potential than those working in tourism, architecture, agriculture, sports, creative arts and teaching. However, what … Read More

Summer of stats part 3 – what we buy

Guest Author • Jan 03, 2010

• consumer price index,
• Statistics New Zealand

A running series from Statistics New Zealand helping us make sense of the Food Price Index and the Consumers Price Index… Priceshifting – What we buy In recent years, about one sixth of our household spending has been on food. But what about the other five-sixths? What’s in the Consumers Price Index (CPI) provides an interesting snapshot. The CPI measures … Read More

Summer of stats part 2 – Of lettuces, strawberries and things

Guest Author • Dec 27, 2009

• Statistics New Zealand

A running series from Statistics New Zealand helping us make sense of the Food Price Index and the Consumers Price Index… Priceshifting Statisticians are not particularly noted for their vegetarian inclinations, but they do exhibit an appetite for fruit and vegetables. They find lettuces especially fascinating. Source: Statistics New ZealandThe Food Price Index works on the basis of price per … Read More

McDavitt on what the weather did in 2009

Guest Author • Dec 24, 2009

• Bob McDavitt,
• MetService,
• weather

Metservice’s weather ambassador Bob McDavitt has compiled his annual review of weather trends for the previous year. Click on the presentation below to view in full-screen mode or to download. [slideshare id=2772724&doc=2009review-091223221454-phpapp02&type=d] … Read More