January 2019
Empowering agencies to use data more effectively [PDF 58 KB]
Stats NZ is partnering with agencies to co-design and implement new ways to manage and use data.
At the heart of this work is transparency, trust, and integrity around how government uses the data it holds on behalf of New Zealanders.
July 2017
Agencies operate in an ad hoc way, leading to inconsistency in how data is:
Māori access to data limited, and their information needs not fully understood. Relationship in the early growth stage.
Current legislation is a barrier to generating greater value from data.
Agencies will:
Growth will be driven by evidence-informed policy, and investment decisions, service design, and delivery.
Strong relationships established with Māori, ensuring they’re enabled to fully participate in decisions about their data.
A data toolkit will support agencies to maximise their use of data to increase their capability, remove roadblocks, and reduce costs.
Implementation will be collaborative but gradual, with functions being trialled and tested in different environments.
Government-held data will be ‘open by design’, enabling innovation.
Legislation enabling increased data use and innovation, with the right level of protection, enacted.
An enhanced approach to data will result in more effective and efficient data use, reduced costs, and innovation by:
Treaty partnership is fully enabled. Māori co-design and engage with the data system. Data is accessible for Māori. New Zealanders can have confidence in how government uses algorithms (automatic decision-making processes used by computer programmes), that result in, or inform, decisions directly impacting people or groups.
We’re working across government to co-design the framework to support agencies to build capability, and access and use data effectively and efficiently.
Stats NZ is New Zealand’s trusted data agency. Stats NZ Chief Executive was appointed Government Chief Data Steward (GCDS) by the State Services Commissioner in July 2017. A Cabinet mandate empowers the GCDS to direct agencies to adopt common capabilities and data standards. Agencies are enabled and supported by the GCDS to voluntarily adopt approved standards.
Data leadership supports the Government’s priority to get more value from data – to better inform decisions, shape policy, and improve service delivery. We’ll support agencies by creating tools and resources to increase their data capability, remove roadblocks, and reduce costs.
If you’d like more information, have a question, or want to provide feedback, email datalead@stats.govt.nz.