About the Annual Enterprise Survey (AES)

Information about taking part in the Annual Enterprise Survey, such as why we carry out the survey, how we select participants, and how you can complete the questionnaire if you are selected.

The purpose of the Annual Enterprise Survey

The Annual Enterprise Survey (AES) is an annual financial collection that measures the financial performance and financial position of New Zealand businesses.

AES data represents over 60% of the Gross Domestic Product measurement which provides a snapshot of the performance of the economy and is New Zealand’s official measure of economic growth.

The information the survey provides is also important because it is:

• a key input to New Zealand’s national accounts, which are used to monitor economic growth, savings, and investment.
• used by businesses for monitoring their own performance
• used by new businesses to make informed decisions about potential sales or compare against similar businesses.
• used by government organisations for economic policymaking.
• used internationally to compare countries’ economic activity.

Taking part in AES

Around 500,000 businesses that had traded within the survey year are measured in the AES. For this survey, a ‘business’ can be an enterprise or organisation that operates for profit or not for profit, for example a shop, company, trust, or club.

We survey approximately 16,000 of these businesses, which account for over half of all the economic activity recorded by the AES. They are selected based on criteria such as:

• Industry
• GST sales amount
• Number of employees.

In general, the larger the contribution a business makes to the totals we publish, the more likely they are to be selected. However, some smaller businesses are also selected as they are representative of other businesses of a similar size.

Businesses can remain in the survey sample for several years to create a better understanding of the movements of an industry over time. The survey sample is very important for the quality assurance of AES and other economic measurements.

The questions included in this survey are being asked under the Data and Statistics Act 2022.

Our approach to survey compliance has more information about your legal obligation to participate in the Annual Enterprise Survey.

See more information on the design of the AES, other data sources used, and how businesses are selected.

How we collect responses

We use IRD tax data for approximately 86% of the businesses in the AES population. Although tax data is important, it doesn’t provide all the information we need to effectively measure the economic activity of New Zealand industries. We use questionnaires to collect this additional information.

Through these questionnaires, we collect financial data from businesses which is then analysed at an industry level to help measure the overall NZ economy.

To do this we need to collect data that might be different to what your business uses for the compilation of GST returns or annual reports. We only collect data that we need to measure the economic performance of New Zealand businesses and industries.

Each year the AES population and survey sample is reviewed and, where possible, administrative tax data is used.

How to complete the survey

You can complete the survey by:

• filling out a paper questionnaire and posting it to us, or
• filling out a PDF form and emailing it to us.

When you send back your survey, please make sure to attach a set of your audited financial accounts.

Completing the paper questionnaire

Fill out the paper questionnaire you received in the mail and post it back to us in the prepaid envelope provided.

Completing the PDF form

Download and fill out the editable PDF form your received in an email and email it back to us at aes@stats.govt.nz.

Get in touch about AES

If you’re taking part in the AES and have any questions or need help, you can:

• phone: 0800 809 464
• email: aes@stats.govt.nz