The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has apologised over publishing misleading juvenile crime figures for New Zealand, Justice Minister Phil Goff said yesterday.
An OECD report released last week said that out of the organisation's 30 nations, New Zealand had the highest rate of suspected teenage criminals at 4012
per 100,000 people under 20.
Germany followed with 3769 and Finland, 2324.
At the time Mr Goff expressed outrage, saying the study was not worth the paper it was written on as it did not compare like with like.
For instance, New Zealand statistics counted every individual offence, while other jurisdictions counted individual offenders.
He protested to the OECD and has now received a written apology.
"We accept that this [Mr Goff's] claim is well-founded and we apologise for the fact that the chart in question has given rise to misleading stories," OECD spokesman John Martin said.
"I regret that we have slipped below our normal high standards in including non-comparable data for New Zealand on this indicator.
"We are reviewing our procedures in order to ensure that his does not occur again in future editions of the publication."
The OECD said that the information had been removed from its website and a correction issued to media contacts.
The publication had already been printed but an explanation would be added.
Mr Goff welcomed the prompt response.
"The Government is not complacent about the challenges facing the youth justice area but it is utterly wrong to suggest New Zealand figures are out of line with comparable countries."
- NZPA
