5 Government survey programmes

Posted October 24th, 2007 by nzssds-user

5.1 SNZ programme of official social statistics

The Programme of Official Social Statistics (POSS) is a 10 year programme to develop a coordinated set of official social statistics across government. It is the result of extensive consultation and discussion with government agencies and other interested individuals and organisations over the last three years to identify gaps and deficiencies in existing data.

The POSS is made up of a suite of social surveys to be developed and managed, not all by Statistics New Zealand. Examples of proposed new surveys include a housing survey and a family survey. The POSS also encompasses more effective use of administrative data for statistical purposes and aims to improve analysis and dissemination of data. An advisory group has been established to advise Statistics New Zealand on the development of new surveys and databases that will contribute to the POSS. The group is made up of representatives from key government agencies.

A coordinated whole-of-government programme of official social statistics will provide a robust foundation for planning and investment decisions, and associated research and evaluation activity. The first new survey in the programme is the GSS which aims to provide information on selected aspects of social wellbeing.

Statistics New Zealand is developing an information plan for each outcome domain. These plans will provide a tool for Statistics New Zealand to establish a shared understanding of priorities and agreement between key users and data custodians on what is required to address statistical needs into the future.

List of proposed and existing surveys in the Programme of Official Social Statistics:

  • Census of Population and Dwellings
  • Household Economic Survey (HES)
  • Household Labour Force Survey (HLFS)
  • New Zealand Income Survey
  • New Zealand Health Survey
  • Housing
  • Survey of Family, Income and Employment (SoFIE)
  • Longitudinal Immigration Survey: New Zealand (LisNZ)
  • General Social Survey
  • Māori Social Survey
  • Family Survey
  • Disability Survey
  • Household Income Survey (HIS)
  • Time Use Survey
  • Household Savings Survey
  • Literacy/adult competencies Survey
  • The New Zealand Crime and Safety Survey
  • Supplementary surveys to the HLFS on new and emerging labour market issues.


5.2 A data archive for the official statistics system: Source

The Top Down Review of the Official Statistics System recommended that the Official Statistics Research and Data Archive Centre (OSRDAC) be established to provide:

  • a metadata archive for all Tier 1 surveys, administrative data and integrated statistical data sets, and
  • a unit record data archive for all Tier 1 surveys, and Statistics New Zealand’s holdings of Tier 1 administrative datasets and integrated statistical data sets, including historical data (e.g. censuses of particular interest to researchers).

The data archive holds important unit record datasets from across the official statistics system and makes suitably confidentialised versions of these data sets available to researchers via Statistics New Zealand’s microdata access services.

All versions of each data set, along with their associated metadata and documentation are carefully managed to ensure long-term use.

Data archive contents

  • Metadata for all Tier 1 statistics
  • Definitive versions of Tier 1 survey data sets
  • Other data sets of high quality that are of significant value to current research needs and anticipated future ones
  • The metadata and documentation needed to manage and make informed use of each data set.


5.3 NZ's tourism research programme

International Visitor Arrivals
The International Visitor Arrivals Survey (IVA) collects data on international visitor numbers, source country, demographics, purpose of visit and port of entry.

International Visitor Survey
The International Visitor Survey (IVS) collects data on international visitor behaviour, expenditure and travel patterns.

Commercial Accommodation Monitor
The Commercial Accommodation Monitor (CAM) collects data on the demand for and supply of commercial accommodation, and numbers employed in accommodation establishments.

Domestic Travel Survey
The Domestic Travel Survey (DTS) collects data on domestic visitor behaviour, expenditure and travel patterns.


5.4 Ministry of health monitoring survey programme: Source

The New Zealand Health Monitor (NZHM) is an integrated programme of population health surveys and record linkage studies managed by Public Health Intelligence (PHI). The NZHM is a key element in the governmental cross-sector programme of Official Social Statistics, and operates under strict ethical standards.

NZHM surveys collect health information that cannot be collected during the process of health care. This includes information on the health status of New Zealanders, risk and protective factors associated with health, access to and the use of health services (especially primary health care services), and inequalities in health between population groups (for example, by age, sex, ethnicity and socio-economic position).


NZHM survey Topic/data areas Frame (target population) Sample Mode Frequency
New Zealand Health Survey Chronic diseases, biological and behavioural risk factors, reported health status, health service utilisation, sociodemographics. All New Zealanders Approximately 12000 adults and approximately 5000 children Face to face, computer-assisted (CAPI) questionnaire plus anthropometric measurements in respondent’s home. Every three years (next 2006/07)
Te Rau Hinengaro – New Zealand Mental Health Survey Prevalence, severity, impairment and treatment of major mental health disorders. New Zealand adults (16 years+) Approximately 13000 Face-to-face CAPI questionnaire in respondent’s home. Approximately every 10 years (next planned for 2012)
New Zealand Adult Nutrition Survey Food and nutrient intake, factors influencing dietary intake, nutritional status and nutrition-related status. New Zealand adults (15 years+) Approximately 5000 24-hour dietary recall and food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), self-administered questionnaire, plus examination, in respondent’s home. Every 10 years (next 2007/08)
New Zealand Child Nutrition Survey Food and nutrient intake, factors influencing dietary intake, nutritional status and nutrition-related status. New Zealand children (5–14 years) Approximately 4000 24-hour dietary recall and FFQ, caregiver-administered questionnaire in home, and examination component at school. Every 10 years (next 2012)
New Zealand Oral Health Survey Oral health status, oral health beliefs, attitudes, knowledge and practices All New Zealanders Approximately 6000 to 8000 Face-to-face CAPI questionnaire and examination in respondent’s home. In planning for 2007/08 to be repeated every 10 years
New Zealand Tobacco Use Survey Tobacco use and the psychosocial correlates of smoking behaviours. Prevalence and consumption data available from the NZ Health Survey in third year. New Zealand adults (15–64 years) Approximately 4000 to 6000 Face-to-face CAPI questionnaire in respondent’s home. Two out of every three years (2005, 2006, 2008, 2009 etc)
New Zealand Alcohol and Drug Use Survey Alcohol and illicit drug use, and the behaviours associated with alcohol and drug use. New Zealand adults (16–64 years) Approximately 6000 to 8000 To be decided Every two years (next 2007)
New Zealand Sexual Health Survey Health-related risk and protective behaviours associated with sexual health. New Zealand adults (16–64 years)
‹ 4 New Zealand Social Research Data Archives (NZSRDA)up6 Australian surveys held by ASSDA ›