NZSSDS is administered from within COMPASS Research Centre, in the Faculty of Arts at The University of Auckland. The centre consists of a team of researchers with experience and expertise in a range of disciplines and research methodologies.

NZSSDS is a multi-functional entity, providing in the first instance a space for holding data sets and metadata related to social sciences surveys in New Zealand, for the purposes of encouraging secondary analysis and specifically for aiding in the teaching of research methods in the social sciences. 'Enhanced publications' holdings are also being developed, adding value to journal articles and other publications around the surveys held. More details are given below.

NZSSDS provides access to data from New Zealand surveys in the social sciences. Full metadata are held in an interface using Nesstar software [2]. Data sets are held in Nesstar's format but can be downloaded in a number of different formats. This 'WebView' interface can be accessed by clicking the browse link at the top right. Metadata holdings and one-way frequency tables can be viewed freely for all data sets. In order to view crosstabulations or perform basic analyses online, or to download a data set, you will need to register with NZSSDS [3] and then fill in a user undertaking form [4] in order to gain permission to access the specific data set(s) in which you are interested. This additional step is in place so that those that deposit data sets with us always know who is wanting to make use of their data.