A register-based statistical system in New Zealand: Progress and opportunities

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Cutting, Celeste^{a; *} | Alspach, Michael^a | Cowell, Sarah^b | Judd, Michael^a | McBeth, Simon^a | Page, Mathew^b

Affiliations: [a] Statistics New Zealand, Wellington, New Zealand | [b] Statistics New Zealand, Christchurch, New Zealand

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Celeste Cutting, Stats NZ; 8 Willis Street, PO Box 2922, Wellington 6011, New Zealand. Tel.: +64 4 931 4635; E-mail: [email protected].

Abstract: This paper provides an overview of progress and opportunities in Stats NZ’s journey towards a register-based statistical system. It sets out to provide a status update of the components of the system at Stats NZ – Statistical Business Register (SBR), Statistical Person Register (SPR), and Statistical Location Register (SLR). The drivers for change and changes to the authorising environment are described, including the prioritisation of a register-based statistical system through Stats NZ’s strategic priorities and the updates to the legislative context through the Data and Statistics Act 2022. The current state of each of the base registers is briefly described and detail is provided on the evolution of a SPR and concept development of a property-centric location register.

Keywords: Registers, record linkage, trust

DOI: 10.3233/SJI-230106

Journal: Statistical Journal of the IAOS, vol. 40, no. 1, pp. 19-24, 2024