Statistics New Zealand undertakes a significant amount of the official statistics survey activity across government. The following information sets out the terms and conditions for government departments that choose to engage in sponsored surveys with Statistics New Zealand.
Scope
The policy covers:
- any new sponsored statistical survey
- the addition of significant new parts or new questions to an existing sponsored survey
- increasing the sample size of an existing sponsored survey (to enable data to be produced at lower levels of disaggregation)
- joint collections.
The policy excludes:
- consultancy services related to survey processes
- data supplied from other organisations to Statistics New Zealand for subsequent processing, analysis and publication
- access to datasets collected by Statistics New Zealand (other than those that arise from sponsored surveys).
Prerequisites
Tier 1 surveys
- There may be times when more surveys are proposed than Statistics New Zealand has the capacity to carry out to an acceptable professional standard, given its existing work programme. If this occurs, priority will be given to surveys that produce Tier 1 statistics, and especially to those identified as addressing information gaps or deficiencies in official statistics.
- A sponsored survey may or may not produce Tier 1 statistics. To determine whether the statistics produced by the sponsored survey will be designated as Tier 1, the selection criteria will be aligned against the information needs the survey is going to fulfil. This alignment process will reveal whether the statistics meet the Tier 1 criteria.
- After the alignment process, it will be mutually agreed between Statistics New Zealand and the sponsoring agency to give the proposed survey Tier 1 status.
Ministerial approval
- In accordance with section 6 of the Statistics Act 1975, all sponsored surveys must gain approval from the Minister of Statistics before work begins, regardless of the Tier 1 status of the sponsored survey.
- Statistics New Zealand will work alongside the sponsoring agency to document an agreement outlining the objectives and purpose of the survey, and its intended audience and output. The agreement will also contain the:
- the purpose of the project
- the roles of each agency and agreed consultation and reporting arrangements
- the funding arrangements
- the deliverables.
Ministerial approval and joint collections
In accordance with the Statistics Act 1975, prior approval must be obtained from the Minister of Statistics for information to be jointly collected by Statistics New Zealand and the sponsoring agency.
Note: Statistics New Zealand will not undertake a sponsored survey unless its primary purpose is to produce or effect the development of Tier 1 statistics.
Policies, terms and conditions
Statistics New Zealand will work with the sponsoring agency to maintain the high quality and standards of New Zealand’s Official Statistics System.
This involves working alongside the sponsoring agency to develop mutually agreeable terms and conditions for carrying out sponsored surveys, while taking care not to compromise Statistics New Zealand’s business objectives or the legal duties, obligations and independence of the Government Statistician.
Production of sponsored surveys to Tier 1 standards
All statistics produced by a sponsored survey or joint collection involving Statistics New Zealand will be produced to Official Statistics System principles and protocols.
A full list of the Official Statistics System principles and protocols for Tier 1 producers is contained in New Zealand Official Statistics System Statement of Principles.