The Seventh Conference of Pacific Heads of Planning and Statistics (HOPS7) was convened in Wellington, New Zealand, from 3–7 November 2025.
HOPS7 provided a valuable platform for members to share experiences, discuss common challenges, and explore opportunities for collaboration. Discussions focused on addressing the growing demand for timely, accurate, and relevant statistics to inform policy and decision-making, and enhancing regional coordination among technical and development partners. Other meetings were held alongside HOPS to maximise the benefits for participants travelling to Wellington – including the 17th Meeting of the Pacific Statistics Methods Board (PSMB17), the Pacific Planners Forum, and the 6th Donor and Development Partners Group Meeting (DDPG6). Key highlights across the meetings are summarised further below.
Stats NZ thanks you for officially opening the conference in your capacity as Minister of Statistics (and Minister for Pacific Peoples) along with New Zealand’s Acting Government Statistician Mary Craig, and with representatives present from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), the Ministry for Pacific Peoples (MPP), the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), and the Public Services Commission (PSC) Fale. Keynote speakers during the week included Professor Yvonne Underhill-Sem, who provided valuable insights into regional development, data, and planning issues in the Pacific context.
Heads of Planning and Statistics (HOPS)
HOPS brings together the most senior officials responsible for statistics and planning from across the Pacific region – providing a regular institutional interface between national statistics offices (NSOs), national planning leads, donors, development partners and The Pacific Community (SPC) to build and sustain the collaborative relationships that are crucial to the successful implementation of the Strategic Framework for Pacific Statistics and other statistical initiatives in the region.
Highlights from HOPS included:
- A progress update on the Strategic Framework for Pacific Statistics
- Endorsement of the National Strategy for the Development of Statistics (NSDS) – Model Blue Pacific 2050
- Endorsement of the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Integrated Indicators Management Tool – This tool will enhance coherence and efficiency in data management and reporting for national and regional frameworks. It is designed to utilise Pacific Data for effective monitoring, evaluation, and evidence-based decision-making across sectors.
- Launch of the Pacific Gender Outlook 2025 – A joint initiative by UN Women and SPC that provides a comprehensive analysis of gender equality trends in the Pacific and supports the integration of gender-responsive planning and policymaking in the region.
- Launch of the Pacific Regional Guidebook on Disability Statistics – A collaboration between The Pacific Community, Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs), the Pacific Group on Disability Statistics and the Nossal Institute for Global Health (University of Melbourne), this resource provides guidance on disability concepts and measurement in the Pacific region; disability data collection tools and their use in censuses and household surveys; addressing challenges faced in data collection in the Pacific region; and translation considerations and methodology.
Pacific Statistics Methods Board (PSMB)
PSMB provides oversight and guidance on statistical methods, systems and procedures used by Pacific Island countries and territories and ensures these are in line with international best practices, while at the same time relevant to the local context.
Highlights from the meeting included:
- Update on the Statistical Modernisation Project for the Pacific,
- Endorsement of a Data Governance Framework for Tonga
- Endorsement of the Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) Analysis and Dissemination Guideline for Pacific Island countries.
- Update on Vanuatu’s Data Science for Climate Change Statistical Modernisation Initiative
- Update on the Real-Time Welfare and Poverty Data Monitoring System in Kiribati.
Pacific Statistics Methods Board