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New Zealanders are being asked to divulge personal information on their household spending to Statistics New Zealand under threat of a $500 fine if they refuse.
The demand placed on 4500 New Zealand households has concerned civil liberties advocates, who say it should be people's choice to expose their private habits in the annual household economic survey.
The people in the randomly selected households are asked to take part in a face-to-face interview, typically about one-and-a-half hours, and then complete a diary detailing the spending habits of all adults in the household over two weeks.
As with the Census, people are legally required to take part. Anyone who refuses can be fined up to $500.
Statistics New Zealand collection manager Ray Freeman said that although fines had been imposed for non-compliance in other surveys such as the Census, it was a "last resort". It had not been used yet against those refusing to take part in the household economic survey, but "the potential is there".
"We spend some time trying to talk to [people] about the benefits of taking part.
"There are always a few that won't do it. We have the interviewer visit them several times looking to get that cooperation."
Asked if some felt they had no choice but to cooperate when they would be fined otherwise, Mr Freeman said: "I think a lot of people make the connection between participating in the survey and in the value of the statistics we produce.
"We work to reassure people that we keep their information protected and confidential. Our results are kept confidential. Even our staff have to sign declarations of secrecy."
Barry Wilson, of the Auckland Council for Civil Liberties, said that although there was a public interest element to gathering the statistics, coercion should be abandoned.
"It is intrusive. I do know people feel uncomfortable about it. Why not just get it from the people who are relaxed about doing it? It starts to leave a sour taste in the mouth when you have to use coercion."
Mr Freeman said the results of the surveys gave crucial information for compiling the Consumer Price Index, which measures household inflation.
