These tools help anyone who uses people’s information to develop insights about topics, services or communities to ensure their actions are respectful, trusted and transparent.
What you do
You may work with a broad of data and information — from requesting matched data sets from the Stats NZ Integrated Data Infrastructure, to undertaking direct interviews with service users.
You often make decisions about what data and information to use and have a key role in making sure the collection and use is fair, transparent and respectful.
You also advocate for collaboration on the interpretation and analysis of people’s data and information.
Depending on what you do in your role, these tools can help you apply the Data Protection and Use Policy (DPUP) in your work.
Understand how DPUP relates to analysis, research or evaluation
This 2-page DPUP summary outlines how information from or about service users is often used for analysis, research, evaluation and other similar activities.
Read DPUP summary if you work in analysis, research and evaluation
Using DPUP involves engaging with the 5 Principles. These are examples of how you might apply the Principles when your role involves analysis, research or evaluation using people’s data and information.
He Tāngata
Focus on improving people’s lives — individuals, families, whānau, iwi and communities.
This Principle is upheld when you:
are clear how using this information in this way has a real, tangible benefit to people
use careful checks and balances to inform your work — for example, management review of proposals, discussion with an ethics committee, discussion with service users / groups, involvement of Māori or other impact groups to inform the approach and use of outputs
consult widely and invite review of the purpose, cultural appropriateness and proposed outcome of your work, especially when your agency does not have an ethics committee or your work may be sensitive.
Respect and uphold the mana and dignity of the people whānau, communities or groups who share their data and information.
This Principle is upheld when you:
actively consider the needs, aspirations and realities of those who have provided the data and information you are working with
include service users or communities in designing the use of data and information to learn if they see this as a legitimate and respectful thing to do. Is the work incorporating their needs and priorities?
advocate for and support Kaupapa Māori and ‘for Pacific peoples by Pacific peoples’ research and evaluation, and the inclusion of disabled communities who ask “nothing about us without us”.
Empower people’s choices and enable access to and oversight of their data and information.
This Principle is upheld when you:
are transparent and open with service users or research participants by providing easy-to-understand information that explains what information about them is needed, why and what is done with it
get informed consent to use any information or data (even aggregated or de-identified). If this is not possible, for example research uses not communicated when the information was collected, then consult widely about the ethics of this use and still make sure people can understand what is recorded about them, why and how it is used
develop ways for service users to access and have copies of their specific information if it is identifiable as it moves from one use to another
collect and use the minimum information to achieve your outcomes.
Act as a steward in a way that people understand and trust.
This Principle is upheld when you:
recognise the trust that people place in you, which comes with an obligation to care for and respect the information they have shared
ensure information that other organisations collect for you is only accessible to those involved in the research / analysis, and only to the degree necessary. Also make it safe and easy for them to collect it
use the correct technical processes, methods and approaches for the kind of analysis or research you are doing
use data management processes and tools that provide the appropriate level of security to protect, transfer and store data and information.
Work as equals to create and share valuable knowledge.
This Principle is upheld when you:
co-design work so it meets a clear need, is relevant and respectful, includes the perspective and knowledge of other agencies — include them on ethics committees or in processes
talk with those who collect information you use about how the results of your work can be applicable and useful to them. Provide help and support to others to understand and use data and results in their work
invite other professionals to work with you to share and grow skills and knowledge
make data and data sets easily available to others while considering what level of access best makes sense
proactively release findings, results or advice in an understandable way for a wide range of people.
This 1-page summary outlines general steps that a piece of analysis, research or evaluation would typically go through, and includes ideas about how the Principles might apply.
Read Analysis, research, and evaluation life cycle
In 2018 Auckland Council’s Southern Initiative and the Social Wellbeing Agency worked together to develop new ways of working to support improved social wellbeing and better social sector decision-making and practice. In particular, the partnership wanted to understand what South Auckland whānau experienced around the birth of a child.
The case study describes the social wellbeing approach applied in this project, the methodology and tools developed, and the insights gained. It provides an overview of how the DPUP Principles and Guidance are reflected in how the project team worked together and created value from data. It's a good example of putting the Sharing Value Guideline into practice.
