Statistician, Public Servant and Fisherman
As one of New Zealand's experts on population trends and prospects, Len Cook is a keen observer and commentator about both official statistics and public sector management over some 50 years.
Len Cook has been the Government Statistician of New Zealand from 1992–2000, as well as National Statistician and Permanent Secretary in the UK government (2000–2005), including Registrar-General of England and Wales.
Experiences that shaped the career of Len Cook are the subject of the book
Len Cook: South Dunedin to Whitehall
Available from:
“The statistician keeps his fingers on the pulse of humanity, and gives the necessary warning when things are not as they should be.”
Index of Topics
About Len Cook
As a former UK National Statistician and NZ Government Statistician Len Cook is one of the very few New Zealanders to have ever held a top-level public-sector post elsewhere as well as New Zealand. This has led to a unique opportunity to develop insights and perspectives on the fundamental drivers that underpin the place and performance of a successful contemporary public sector. In 1987–88, Len was a member of the Royal Commission on Social Policy.
Born in Dunedin and educated at Forbury Primary School, MacAndrew Intermediate and Bayfield High School, as well as the University of Otago, Len's professional career was in Statistics New Zealand and the UK Office for National Statistics.
After full time employment, he was Chair of the Families Commission, the Medical Training Board, a member of the Remuneration Authority, and the Winston Churchill Trust Board.
Apart from periods in both Christchurch and London, Len has lived in Wellington since graduating from the University of Otago in 1971.
Len has been an amateur fly fisherman for some 45 years.