- Hon Scott Simpson
Information collected by government agencies through their ordinary day-to-day interactions is to be made more useful, Statistics Minister Scott Simpson says.
This week the Government commenced the Admin Data Improvement Plan to help ensure information collected by agencies can better guide decisions in areas like education, health services, housing and infrastructure.
Administrative data - or admin data - is information collected by government agencies as part of their day-to-day interactions with people and businesses. This can include information provided when people access government services or apply for a licence or benefit.
"The Plan means agencies like the Department of Internal Affairs and the Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport can work with Stats NZ to ensure the information they collect can be used to improve the completeness, accuracy and timeliness of official statistics," Mr Simpson says.
"More reliable data means better decision making. Government, councils businesses and communities can plan services and invest with greater confidence."
The implementation of the Plan is underway, with agencies working alongside Stats NZ to deliver agreed improvements over the next three years.
Admin data is already used extensively to produce official data and statistics, from population estimates to measuring the economy and the cross-government plan will ensure that existing framework continues.
The Plan will ensure the improved completeness, accuracy and timeliness of information to give better insights in to such things as where people live, their occupation and ethnicity.
"This plan will greatly support Stats NZ to produce useful and meaningful official statistics," Mr Simpson says.
Notes to editors:
- Read the Admin Data Improvement Plan
- Stats NZ has worked closely with other government agencies and crown entities to understand existing gaps, opportunities for improvement, as well as practical actions that would strengthen the collection of admin data. This work has informed the Admin Data Improvement Plan.
- The Plan sets out a coordinated effort across government agencies to improve the collection, quality, and supply of key admin data over the next three years.
- Quality data helps government and the private sector to make informed decisions, target investment, and align services with the needs of communities throughout New Zealand.
- The Plan is an important step towards a stronger, more connected government data system, by driving a collective uplift in the quality of admin data across government.
