17 December 2025
Spencer Jones
[FYI request #32914 email]
Tēnā koe Spencer
Official Information Act (OIA) request: Death statistics
On 19 November 2025, Stats NZ received your request, under the Official Information Act 1982
(the Act), for information regarding mortality statistics. On 1 December 2025, you were advised
that parts 3, 4 and 7 of your request were transferred to Health NZ – Te Whatu Ora, as those parts
are more closely connected with the functions of that agency.
The remaining parts of your request are addressed in turn, below:
1) Annual total deaths & excess mortality estimates
For each calendar year: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024,
and the most recent published period for 2025:
1.1 Total registered deaths in New Zealand
You can view and download data on the number of deaths from Stats NZ’s Infoshare website at:
http://infoshare.stats.govt.nz/ under the category “Population” and the subject “Deaths – VSD”.
You can also find information on mortality on the Stats NZ website at:
https://www.stats.govt.nz/information-releases/births-and-deaths-year-ended-september-
2025/.
1.2 Age-standardised mortality rate
Mortality rates are also available on Infoshare under the category “Population” and the subject
“Deaths Rates – DMM”, in there you will find ‘Age-specific death rates by sex, December years
(total population) (Annual-Dec)’ and ‘Standardised death rates (Maori and total population)
(Annual-Dec)’.
1.3 Annual excess mortality (number and percentage) using Stats NZ’s
standard baseline methodology
1.4 Any internal or published technical notes describing how excess mortality
was calculated for each year
[email address]
toll-free 0508 525 525
stats.govt.nz
8 Willis Street, Wellington
PO Box 2922, Wel ington 6140
These parts of your request are refused under section 18 (g) of the Act on the basis that the
information requested is not held by Stats NZ. While Stats NZ measures mortality rates, it does
not measure excess deaths, nor does it maintain baseline methodologies or technical
documentation for calculating excess deaths.
2) Weekly mortality (2015–2025)
Please provide the following:
2.1 Weekly total death counts (all-cause) for every week from 1 Jan 2015 to the
latest available week in 2025
Stats NZ is now publishing provisional weekly deaths data on a quarterly basis as part of the births
and deaths releases published in February, May, August, and November each year. This approach
was introduced in response to the ongoing demand for weekly deaths data following the closure
of the Stats NZ COVID-19 data portal in August 2024.
The weekly deaths data is provisional and sourced directly from Department of Internal Affairs. It
is based on the date of death (occurrence), with weeks ending on a Sunday. Other deaths data
published by Stats NZ may differ slightly from the weekly deaths data due to being based on date
of registration rather than occurrence, and further processing of the data supplied.
You can find the latest release of provisional weekly registered deaths data at
https://www.stats.govt.nz/information-releases/births-and-deaths-year-ended-september-
2025/.
Stats NZ expected to publish the next update of weekly registered deaths on 17 February 2026.
2.2 Weekly baseline model used by Stats NZ for “expected deaths”
Your request for this information is refused under section 18 (g) of the Act on the basis that the
information requested is not held by Stats NZ. While Stats NZ measures mortality rates, we do
not measure ‘expected deaths’.
2.3 Weekly excess deaths (or sufficient data to calculate this)
Your request for this information is refused under section 18 (g) of the Act on the basis that the
information requested is not held by Stats NZ. While Stats NZ publishes mortality rates, we do not
measure excess deaths statistics.
5) Age-banded mortality
For each year 2015–2025, please provide age-banded mortality counts for the
following groups:
•
0–14
•
15–44
[email address]
toll-free 0508 525 525
stats.govt.nz
8 Willis Street, Wellington
PO Box 2922, Wel ington 6140
•
45–64
•
65–74
•
75–84
•
85+
If different bands are used internally, please provide the closest equivalent.
You can view and download data on mortality counts from Stats NZ’s Infoshare website at:
http://infoshare.stats.govt.nz/ under the category “Population” and the subject “Deaths – VSD”.
They are published in five-year age groups and single year of age. You can also find information
on mortality on the Stats NZ website at:
https://www.stats.govt.nz/information-releases/births-
and-deaths-year-ended-september-2025/.
6) Excess mortality by age, ethnicity, and region
If available, for each year 2015–2025:
6.1 Excess deaths by age band
6.2 Excess deaths by ethnicity (Māori, Pacific Peoples, European/Other, Asian)
6.3 Excess deaths by region/DHB area
6.4 Any internal analysis comparing excess deaths before 2020 vs after 2020
(if produced)
If no analysis exists, please confirm.
Your request for this information is refused under section 18(g) of the Act on the basis that the
information requested is not held by Stats NZ. While Stats NZ publishes mortality rates, we do not
measure excess deaths statistics.
Stats NZ’s Information Centre is often the best place to start seeking statistical information, as
the Information Centre exists to help users find the statistical information they are looking for.
Stats NZ’s Information Centre can let you know what data Stats NZ can provide and show you
how to find it. This includes assistance with navigating and retrieving data from Infoshare, such
as those outlined above. This service is free and often results in a same day response.
You can contact our Information Centre in the following ways:
• By phone – 0508 525 525
• By email –
[email address]
•
Online form
Should you wish to discuss this response with us, please feel free to contact Stats NZ at:
[email address].
[email address]
toll-free 0508 525 525
stats.govt.nz
8 Willis Street, Wellington
PO Box 2922, Wel ington 6140
If you are not satisfied with this response, you may contact us via the email address above and/or
have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman. Information about how to
make a complaint is available a
t www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or 0800 802 602.
It is Stats NZ’s policy to proactively release its responses to official information requests where
possible. This letter, with your personal details removed, wil be published on the Stats NZ
website. Publishing responses creates greater openness and transparency of government
decision-making and helps better inform public understanding of the reasons for decisions.
Ngā mihi nui, nā
pp
Fau Logo
Senior Manager – External & Government Relations | Office of the Chief Executive
Stats NZ Tatauranga Aotearoa
stats.govt.nz
[email address]
toll-free 0508 525 525
stats.govt.nz
8 Willis Street, Wellington
PO Box 2922, Wel ington 6140
