Data Access Application

The Data Access Application Process

Anyone who wants to use Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) data needs to make a formal Data Access Application.

Growing Up in New Zealand data is held securely by two organisations:

University of Auckland – comprises the full cohort and all data collected by the study. This data set is governed by a Data Access Protocol to ensure that only qualified researchers access the information and to safeguard the privacy of study participants and their families.
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Stats NZ– comprises a sub-cohort who have consented for most of their data to be shared with Stats NZ for linkage in the Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI). This data set is governed by Stats NZ protocols and procedures to ensure only qualified researchers access the information and to safeguard the privacy of study participants and their families. Stats NZ also aligns with 5 Safes. Find out more here.

Below is an overview of applying to use GUiNZ data either through the University of Auckland or through Stats NZ.

Read the full application process for applying to use data through the University of Auckland here or through Stats NZ here.

Applying to use Growing Up data from the University of Auckland

Anyone who wants to use the full cohort Growing Up in New Zealand dataset held by the University of Auckland for their research needs to make a formal Data Access Application.

We recommend using Adobe Acrobat Reader or Acrobat Pro for completing the application/amendment form(s) as these forms work best with Acrobat.‍

1. Check your research proposal meets the criteria for use

View key resources including:‍

‍Please note that the Principal Investigator (PI) needs to be based at and affiliated with a research institution that is located in Aotearoa New Zealand as a prerequisite to ensure Kaitiakitanga is upheld when using GUiNZ data.
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2. Submit a Data Access Application

If you have any queries about the form or what is required, you can contact our Data Access Coordinator.

If you’re an independent researcher, you can download a Data Access Application form here.

Once you have completed the Data Access Application form, sign it and send it to our Data Access Coordinator.

You will need to outline your research proposal and include:

Project start and end date
A brief summary of your research proposal
Background context for your research
Research aims and objectives
Research methodology
Details of the data sets and data variables you require
Justification for your data request
An outline of your commitment to Growing Up in New Zealand’s Kaitiaki principle
Details of outputs from your research
Details of all those who require data access

3. Data Access Review

The Data Access Coordinator will come back to you within 10 working days of receiving your application and let you know if anything needs to be revised or amended.

This initial review is to determine whether:

The Growing Up in New Zealand data sets can answer your research question
Your research proposal reflects Growing Up in New Zealand principles, including the ownership, Kaitiaki, privacy and protection of value principles.

4. The Data Access Committee reviews the application

The Data Access Committee is made up of representatives from Growing Up in New Zealand; the Growing Up in New Zealand Kaitiaki Group; the University of Auckland; Ministry for Social Development; Ministry of Health; Statistics NZ; and Ministry of Education.

The Committee reviews data access applications and aims to facilitate appropriate access to data for approved researchers in accordance with the Data Access Protocol.

The committee will provide you with a written decision outlining whether your application has been accepted or declined. If your application is declined, the committee will provide you with reasons for declining your application.

You can read the Data Access Committee’s Terms of Reference here.

5. Sign the Data Access Agreement

Once your application has been approved, you will be sent a Data Access Agreement confirming your commitment to follow the Data Access Protocol.

The agreement needs to be signed by the Principal Investigator on behalf of every person in your team who may be accessing Growing Up in New Zealand data or working on analysis using Growing Up in New Zealand data.

For a copy of the Data Access Agreement get in touch with the Data Access Coordinator.

6. Recieve the data

Once you have signed your agreement, you will be set up with access to the data sets via the Secure Data Access Platform. The platform is highly secure and can be used from any computer with internet access.

You will be required to create a University of Auckland log-in, if you don’t already have one. You can do this here .

You will be able to access Growing Up in New Zealand data sets for the length of your project duration. If you need to extend the duration of your project, you’ll need to fill in a Data Access Amendment Form.

You will need to complete a Data Access Amendment Form if there are any changes to your project, including:

The length of time your project takes changes
The personnel on your project changes

All changes are reviewed by the Data Access Committee. You can fill in a Data Access Amendment Form here. If you are having diffculties adding more members to your application form or amendment form, you can use this standalone page for specifying member details.

7. Publication

Once you have finished your analyses and would like to release your data, you will need to follow the instructions in the Data Output Guide. Once completed, submit your output for checking before it can be released. The output checking process can take up to 4 working days. Please ensure that you submit your request to dataaccess@growingup.co.nz in time to allow for output checking.

Growing Up in New Zealand would welcome a copy of all publications (journal articles and research reports) using GUiNZ datasets. Please share with the Data Access Coordinator at dataaccess@growingup.co.nz.

All publications must comply with the Data User Guide provisions in section 8.3 with respect to descriptions of the Growing Up in New Zealand study, standard disclaimer, management of low cell sizes, and interpretation of subgroup analyses by ethnicity.

Growing Up in New Zealand’s communication manager may be in touch with you at this time to discuss potential media opportunities.

Your publication will be linked on the Growing Up in New Zealand website once it’s been published. You can review previous publications using Growing Up in New Zealand data here.