133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T+64 4 496 2000
12 July 2022
Shane Gibson
By email: [FYI request #19553 email]
Ref:
H202207299
Tēnā koe Shane
Response to your request for official information Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) to the Ministry of
Health (the Ministry) on 1 June 2022 for information regarding Google Analytics. You specifically
requested:
“I note on your website https://www.health.govt.nz you are using Google Analytics to
record details of visits to your website.
Can you please provide the following:
1) The length of time this Google Analytics data is retained for.
2) A copy of the Information Management policy that this data retention period is based
upon.”
The Ministry uses Google Analytics data to analyse trends and compare use of the site and
various resources over time. No personally identifiable information is collected as part of this
(the IP address is collected by Google Analytics but is not available in the reporting interface).
Information retention is governed by the Ministry’s Retention and Disposal Policy and Archives
New Zealand General Disposal Authorities rather than an Information Policy. Data of this type is
kept for as long as it is administratively required. An extract of the relevant section of the
Ministry’s policy is available below:
For further information please refer to the Archives New Zealand website:
https://www.archives.govt.nz/manage-information/how-to-manage-your-
information/disposal/disposal-process.
Under section 28(3) of the Act, you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to review any
decisions made under this request. The Ombudsman may be contacted by email at:
[email address] or by calling 0800 802 602.
Please note that this response, with your personal details removed, may be published on the
Ministry website at:
www.health.govt.nz/about-ministry/information-releases/responses-official-
information-act-requests. Nāku noa, nā
Sarah Turner
Deputy Director-General
Government and Executive Services
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