23 August 2023
ASE
[FYI request #23240 email]
Tēnā koe ASE
Official Information Act (OIA) request: Number of deaths by single year of age
On 27 July 2023, Stats NZ provided you with a response to your OIA request for death
statistics (ref: OIA0732). Following receipt of this response, on 27 July 2023 you requested,
under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act), the following information:
I would like to think that anonymized raw data would be readily available, eg just listing
the number of deaths by age per year. From such a table/spreadsheet-file, the analyses
I've requested can be easily derived without compromising any personally identifying
information.
At this time, I would like to request such a table/spreadsheet-file, i.e. one that lists the
number of deaths by age per year.
As noted in our response to your previous OIA request (ref: OIA0732), data on number of
deaths by age per year is publicly available on
Infoshare under “Population” > “Deaths –
VSD” > “Deaths by age and sex (Annual-Dec)”. However, in this Infoshare series, the
number of deaths for those aged 100 years and over are aggregated for the purposes of
reporting. Because the disaggregated data you have requested is not regularly produced by
Stats NZ, it would usually require a customised data request be made. We have, however,
investigated whether this data could be provided without a customised data request.
In this case, the disaggregated data has been produced for internal use. This data is
therefore held by Stats NZ and is able to be provided to you under the Act. Please find
attached two Excel spreadsheets containing the requested data, including the number of
deaths for those aged 100 years and over by single year age groups.
•
OIA0743 JOB-12557 Deaths by SYOA.xlsx contains information on total deaths by
single year of age between 1948 and 2022.
•
OIA0743 JOB-12557 metadata.xlsx contains important information regarding the
information provided – specifically the conditions of supply, notes on data quality,
definitions, and metadata.
In regard to the data provided in
OIA0743 JOB-122557 Deaths by SYOA.xlsx, please note:
• Deaths data is based on deaths registered in New Zealand by date of registration
• New Zealand resident deaths is the official measure from 1991
• Table 1 (Total deaths) is sourced from historical publications
• These tables have been randomly rounded to base 3 for confidentiality reasons.
Should you have any questions about how to interpret the data provided, please contact
Stats NZ’s Information Centre through one of the following methods:
• By phone – 0508 525 525
• By email –
[email address] •
Online form
We note that 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 o ften results in a
same day response.
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, please feel free to contact us or 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
Mike Webb
Senior Manager – Executive & 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
