Statistics New Zealand has launched Te Ao Marama 2012, a new publication specifically for Maori giving a snapshot of information on Maori well-being and development, Government Statistician Geoff Bascand announced today.

"According to the latest statistics, an estimated 673,500 people are of Maori ethnicity in New Zealand. While Statistics NZ has published M?ori statistics in the past, until now there have been few publications that make the information accessible and easily understood.

"We recognised that information about Maori needed to be published in an easily accessible way where key information was collated into one area.

"Te Ao Marama 2012 touches on a range of data spanning economic, social, cultural, and environmental statistics.

"For example, in 1991, of all who identified as Maori, 132,000 did not know the iwi from which they were descended, but by 2006 this figure had reduced to 102,000.

"As well as providing the useful information in Te Ao Marama, we have further developed our Maori statistics section on our website. This gives easy, fast, and convenient access to a wealth information related to Maori.

"We were aware that we held a great deal of information about Maori but that few people knew what we had or how to access it.

"With the publication of Te Ao Marama and a higher level of information being placed online, we hope to significantly increase the use of this information."

If the publication itself proves popular it is envisaged that it will be updated every two years, as a companion to Statistics New Zealand's annual New Zealand in Profile.

See Te Ao Marama 2012 online (www.stats.govt.nz/maori) - accessible at 4:15pm today.

Order print copies of Te Ao Marama 2012 by phoning 0508 525 525 or emailing info@stats.govt.nz.