Examining political neutrality and surveys

On 11 February 2019, the Minister of State Services, the Hon Chris Hipkins, asked the State Services Commissioner Peter Hughes to examine the circumstances that led to Inland Revenue commissioning an online survey containing a question about the political leanings of respondents, which had the potential to undermine the principle of political neutrality. 

The objective of the review was to examine what happened and to provide an assurance that the principle of political neutrality was understood within Inland Revenue.

The Commission looked at the Inland Revenue matter and also asked other government departments to review their surveys, polls and equivalent research over the last five years.

Media release: Outcome of look into survey questions

Report: Political neutrality and surveys(PDF, 144 KB)

Report: Independent review of Inland Revenue’s approval of a survey question about political leanings(PDF, 2.4 MB)

Letter to the Minister of State Services: Inland Revenue Survey and political neutrality(PDF, 548 KB)

StatsNZ Census Research Review Phase 1 Report March 2019(PDF, 420 KB)

StatsNZ Census Research Review Phase 2 Report April 2019(PDF, 369 KB)

DOC investigation question on political orientation in survey (redacted) 28 February 2019(PDF, 4.4 MB)