Microdata refers to unit record and aggregate data that cannot be made publicly available, unless data is modified to protect respondent confidentiality. Microdata can be collected through surveys, censuses or administrative processes.
Statistics New Zealand's microdata access services provide researchers with high quality statistical data on which to base their analyses. This reduces the cost of research and helps avoid the creation of duplicate data collections..
Access to microdata is carefully controlled to ensure that data is not misused. Further information on the security and confidentiality of data and other factors that influence the nature of microdata access at Statistics New Zealand are detailed in the Microdata access policy.
Microdata services
Data Lab
The Data Lab provides secure computer facilities in Statistics NZ's offices where researchers can work with anonymised microdata. Strict eligibility criteria apply.
Confidentialised Unit Record Files
Confidentialised Unit Record Files (CURFs) are unit record data that have been modified to protect the confidentiality of respondents' while also maintaining the integrity of the data.
Basic CURFs are made available on a CD-ROM.
Key rules
Future access to microdata depends on researchers cooperating with Statistics New Zealand and abiding by a number of key rules for microdata access:
- Research is for statistical purposes only.
- Researchers must not seek to identify individuals and/or organisations in the microdata.
- No attempt to match datasets is to be made, unless explicitly approved by Statistics New Zealand.
- Researchers must not disclose microdata to any individual not approved to use the microdata.
- All outputs/preliminary data analysis (eg tables, regressions, etc) produced in the Data Lab must be submitted to Statistics NZ for approval to be released. This will also apply to expanded Confidentialised Unit Record Files (CURFs) once they are available.
- All reports and publications that make use of results obtained from work in the Data Lab must be submitted to Statistics NZ for review.
- Microdata must be stored in a secure environment.
- No software, data or equipment is to be brought into, or taken out of, the Data Lab without permission.
- All persons who are provided with access to microdata in the Data Lab must sign the statutory declaration of secrecy as specified in the Statistics Act 1975.
- All persons who are provided with access to a basic or expanded CURF must sign a researcher's undertaking agreement.