Statistics New Zealand provides limited access to microdata (data about specific people, households, or businesses) to support research. Access to microdata is carefully managed to protect confidentiality. No information about individual people, households, or businesses may be published or disseminated.
Microdata access protocols
Please contact us to discuss your research and to find the best microdata product for your project.
Data Lab
Approved researchers can work with microdata using our secure Data Lab computer facilities at Statistics New Zealand's Wellington, Auckland, and Christchurch offices.
Access to the Data Lab is limited to employees of government departments, based on the requirements of the Statistics Act 1975. Researchers who are contracted to a government department may also be granted access. All access is at the Government Statistician’s discretion.
Information on how to apply, and pricing, is available on the Data Lab web page.
Confidentialised unit record files (CURFs)
CURFs are actual unit record data that have been modified to protect the confidentiality of the respondents. CURFs can be useful for a wide range of exploratory research.
Information on how to apply, and pricing, is available on the Confidentialised Unit Record files web page.
Synthetic unit record files (SURFs)
SURFs contain synthetic data which mimics the characteristics of real unit record data. SURFs do not contain information about actual respondents. SURFs are useful for teaching purposes at secondary and tertiary levels.
More information is available on the Surf for Schools web page. SURFs are free of charge.
Contact details
Email: access2microdata@stats.govt.nz
Phone: +64 4 931 4178 or +64 4 931 4608
Address: Microdata Access Team, Statistics New Zealand, PO Box 2922, Wellington 6144