Data Lab
Application to access microdata
Part 1: Instructions
Applicants seeking access to microdata through the Statistics New Zealand Data Lab
are asked to complete this application form and return it to:
Microdata Access Team
Statistics New Zealand
PO Box 2922
WELLINGTON 6144
Telephone:
Email:
0508 525 525
access2microdata@stats.govt.nz
We are happy to help you complete this form and strongly encourage you to
discuss your proposal with us prior to sending in an application. Early discussion of
your proposed research will help ensure the application is processed as quickly as
possible.
All microdata access is at the discretion of the Government Statistician. The following
is a list of important issues that you should consider when preparing your application.
Criterion
Public interest value
Confidentiality
Comment
The proposed research must be of public interest.
All proposed research outputs must protect the
confidentiality of information supplied by respondents.
Ability of the research The research team must have the skills and experience
team
needed to use microdata.
Statistics Act
All access to microdata must be consistent with the
requirements of the Statistics Act 1975 (see section 37).
Availability of
Applications are unlikely to be successful where there
alternatives to
are good alternatives to using microdata.
microdata
Project Title
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The name of the proposed project.
Part 2: Applicant’s details
Lead Researcher
Provide the name and contact details of the lead
researcher.
Alternative contact
If the Lead Researcher cannot be contacted during
the application process, please provide an
alternative contact person who can discuss the
application and assist in resolving any problems.
Organisation
Provide the name and contact details of the
organisation requesting access to microdata. If this
is a joint project, please list the other organisation.
Authorised Signee
Provide the name and position of the person who is
authorised to sign a contract with Statistics New
Zealand for microdata access, if this application is
successful.
Does the organisation support this research
proposal?
Yes
No
Does this research proposal require ethics approval?
If so please provide a copy of the findings.
Yes
No
Does the organisation have a history of carrying out
research of a high standard? (for example, peerreviewed published papers, working papers informing
government policy, presentations to international
conferences, etc.
Yes
No
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Part 3: Details of the proposed project using microdata
Project Title
The name of the proposed project.
Project summary
Give a short paragraph summary of the project that
includes the research question(s) to be investigated
and the anticipated outcomes. This summary may
be made publicly available by Statistics NZ.
Researcher(s)
List the names and work affiliations of the
researchers who will carry out the work of the
project.
Attach a CV for each researcher. The CV should
include an up to date:
 employment history;
 examples of peer-reviewed research
publications; (if any)
 a certified academic record from the
issuing institution;
 and the details of 2 referees that we can
contact.
No researcher will be given access to microdata until they
have signed a declaration of secrecy, as required by the
Statistics Act 1975.
Note that quantitative research skills would be required for
undertaking research.(SQL, STATA, SAS)
Researcher(s) Name
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SAS Required Y/N
Researcher(s)
List the names and work affiliations of the
researchers who will need to view phase 1 output
but will not be working directly with the data.
Are any of the named researchers the subject of a
current disciplinary process or research ethics
complaint (If the answer is yes, we may seek further
information.)
Objectives of the
research
Yes
No
Provide a brief account of the objectives of the
research.
(Indicate how the research will contribute to the
public good, development of policy etc.)
Research methodology
Specify the research methodology and research
design, and explain the significance of both to the
questions being researched.
Anticipated outputs
Provide a brief account of the anticipated outputs of
the project (e.g. aggregated tables, index, new
methodology, etc.). Include all intermediate and
final results.
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Alternatives to using
microdata
Outline any alternatives to using microdata you
have identified and explain why they are not
appropriate for the proposed project.
Dissemination methods
Describe how the results of the research will be
disseminated (e.g. published report, in-house
report, seminars, paper for journal, conferences).
Part 4: Project requirements
Data requirements
Please list all specific data requirements, in relation
to the research question.
Part 5. Available software
Standard Data Lab
Software
Statistics NZ provides access to the following
software for use in the Data lab.
Microsoft Office Suite (user support provided)
Microsoft Studio Express – SQL (user support provided)
Stata (no user support)
R (no user support)
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Specialised software
requirements
Preferred locations
Statistics NZ may be able to host additional
software at an additional cost, and without user
support, if your licence permits it.
Tick one or more location. Details of the data lab
facilities are available on the Statistics NZ website:
http://www.stats.govt.nz/tools_and_services/services/mi
crodata-access/data-lab.aspx
Statistics NZ Auckland ( 67 Symonds Street)
Statistics NZ Wellington (Statistics House, The Boulevard, Harbour
Quays)
Statistics NZ Christchurch (BNZ Centre, Level 1, 120 Hereford Street)
Existing Research Facility
Existing Research
Facility Details
Physical Address
Contact details for IT
liaison for the research
facility
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Timeframe
Please indicate any important dates Statistics New
Zealand should be aware of
Estimated end date for
access to microdata
Other important dates
(e.g. due dates for reports
including microdata
research results, dates for
submitting funding bids
that assume access to
microdata).
Contact for invoicing
Please provide the name and contact address of
the person to whom we should send invoices.
Please fill out this form & send it to access2microdata@stats.govt.nz (we only
require a completed Microsoft Word version of this application)
Appendix 1: Pricing
The Data Lab operates on a cost-recovery basis. Unsuccessful applications to use
the Data Lab do not incur any charge.
Advice to applicant
Assessment and approval (no charge for
unsuccessful applications)
Assessment of variations to an existing
microdata access contract
Confidentiality training session
Dataset creation (where a standard
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free
$500
free
free
no. of hours @ $115/hr
dataset is not available)
Output confidentiality checking
Purchase/licence for custom software
Data Lab user setup
Setup for access to Data Lab from
researcher's place of work
Microdata access (connection to
Statistics NZ server
User support (available Monday - Friday,
8:30am - 5:00pm)
no. of hours @ $115/hr after 15 hours
actual cost
free
free
free
free
Please note the prices above exclude GST
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