The back-up data was important for timely release of GDP data on March 23. Notwithstanding very extensive risk planning and control in the census programme, the organisation was unable to continue the census programme at that time. Some unforeseen risks eventuate. Their impact can sometimes be mitigated by management actions but sometimes organisations just have to trust their resilience.
About four weeks after the February quake, Statistics New Zealand’s IT Group introduced remote access computing for staff. Initially, access was enabled through webmail that provided limited access to non-secure corporate tools. Subsequently, fully access to secure internal databases and statistical software was introduced. When the severe after-shock struck in June, all 240 Christchurch staff had such a facility and “normal” work resumed quickly.