UNCLASSIFIED
7 April 2026
Spencer Jones
[FYI request #33991 email]
Tēnā koe Spencer Jones
Official Information Act (OIA) request: Identification of Veterans in National
Administrative Datasets
On 9 March 2026, you contacted Stats NZ requesting, under the Official Information Act
1982 (the Act), the following information:
•
Confirmation of whether individuals who meet the definition of “veteran” under the
Veterans’ Support Act 2014 can be identified within national datasets held or
administered by Statistics New Zealand, including but not limited to the Integrated Data
Infrastructure (IDI).
•
If such identification is possible, please provide:
o
a. The datasets or administrative sources used to identify veterans.
o
b. The approximate number of individuals currently identified as veterans within
the Integrated Data Infrastructure or related datasets.
o
c. Any data linkage methods used to identify veterans (for example: service
records, administrative datasets, or agency-supplied identifiers).
o
d. Any limitations or caveats recorded by Statistics NZ relating to the
completeness or reliability of veteran identification in national datasets.
•
Any reports, research papers, or analytical work undertaken by or for Statistics NZ that
estimate the size of the New Zealand veteran population using administrative data.
•
Any discussions, agreements, or data-sharing arrangements between Statistics NZ and
Veterans’ Affairs New Zealand or the New Zealand Defence Force relating to identifying
veterans within national datasets.
On 19 March 2026, you were advised that the following part of your request was transferred
to the Social Investment Agency as the information to which your request relates is believed
to be more closely connected with the functions of SIA. In these circumstances, we are
required by section 14 of the Official Information Act to transfer your request.
•
Confirmation of whether individuals who meet the definition of “veteran” under the
Veterans’ Support Act 2014 can be identified within national datasets held or
administered by Statistics New Zealand, including but not limited to the Integrated Data
Infrastructure (IDI).
•
If such identification is possible, please provide:
o
a. The datasets or administrative sources used to identify veterans.
o
b. The approximate number of individuals currently identified as veterans within
the Integrated Data Infrastructure or related datasets.
[email address]
toll-free 0508 525 525
stats.govt.nz
8 Willis Street, Wellington
PO Box 2922, Wellington 6140
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
o
c. Any data linkage methods used to identify veterans (for example: service
records, administrative datasets, or agency-supplied identifiers).
o
d. Any limitations or caveats recorded by Statistics NZ relating to the
completeness or reliability of veteran identification in national datasets.
•
Any reports, research papers, or analytical work undertaken by or for Statistics NZ that
estimate the size of the New Zealand veteran population using administrative data.
With reference to your request for “
any discussions, agreements, or data-sharing
arrangements between Statistics NZ and Veterans’ Affairs New Zealand or the New Zealand
Defence Force relating to identifying veterans within national datasets”, there are no data
sharing arrangements that have been completed. As such, your request is refused under
section 18(e) of the Act as this information does not exist or, despite reasonable efforts to
locate it, cannot be found.
With regard to “discussions” between Stats NZ and Veterans’ Affairs, I can advise you that
Stats NZ are currently in early stages with Veteran's Affairs on the collection of a dataset
containing all veterans within their care, however there is no confirmed date as to when this
will be ready to be ingested into the IDI.
Should you wish to discuss this response with us, please feel free to contact Stats NZ at:
[email address].
If you are not satisfied with this response, you have the right to seek an investigation and
review by the Ombudsman. Information about how to make a complaint is available at
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, will 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.
Nāku noa, nā
Matt Phimmavanh
Acting 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, Wellington 6140
UNCLASSIFIED
