Students need to know how to discern patterns and make decisions using visual information in our modern economy. However, there are few sources of real-world information available to instructors that give students access to visualizations to help develop their skills in interpreting complex situations using diverse data sources. This article outlines a teaching exercise that uses the New Zealand government's data portal. This website contains detailed time series data and visualizations that span economic, social and health data derived from multiple government ministries and New Zealand businesses. The portal continues to be used by government decision-makers to make real-time decisions about the nation's economy and citizen well-being. Typically, statistical agencies carefully vet the data they supply. The data portal prioritizes the timeliness of the information for decision-makers working in a crisis. This brief communication outlines an exercise for students to explore and interpret data through visualizations.