Cross-government plan to deliver stronger data
The New Zealand Government has launched the Admin Data Improvement Plan to enhance the utility of administrative data collected by agencies for policy and service decisions across education, health, housing and infrastructure.
The plan, led by Statistics Minister Scott Simpson, aims to improve the completeness, accuracy and timeliness of official statistics by enabling agencies such as the Department of Internal Affairs and the Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport to collaborate with Stats NZ. Administrative data, collected during routine interactions like service access or licence applications, will be better utilised to guide government, council, business and community decisions. The initiative is part of a three-year implementation programme to strengthen existing data frameworks used for population estimates and economic measurement.
Minister Simpson stated that more reliable data would lead to better decision-making, allowing stakeholders to plan services and investments with greater confidence. The plan builds on existing administrative data use, which already underpins official statistics, while introducing targeted improvements to enhance its value. Agencies will work alongside Stats NZ to deliver agreed enhancements over the next three years.
The improvements are expected to provide deeper insights into population distribution, occupations and ethnicities, supporting evidence-based policy development. The plan aligns with broader efforts to ensure administrative data remains a robust foundation for official statistics, including those used for infrastructure planning and resource allocation.
Stats NZ will play a central role in coordinating the plan’s implementation, ensuring that administrative data meets higher standards of reliability and relevance. The initiative reflects the government’s commitment to leveraging data for more effective public services and long-term planning.