In February 2008 Statistics New Zealand commenced a review of the official injury statistics programme. This was undertaken because the existing programme had been in place for five years and over that time there have been other government initiatives, most notably the New Zealand Injury Prevention Strategy, which have provided new strategic direction for the programme.
The aim of the review was to refresh the current programme to ensure that it provides maximum opportunities to contribute to preventing injuries and improving rehabilitation outcomes in New Zealand.
The objectives were to:
- review information needs that drive the collection of injury statistics now and in the future
- identify implications for the official injury statistics programme
- consult and analyse feedback from the stakeholders on the options developed
- produce findings and priorities for action for consideration by Statistics New Zealand and its partners in the official statistics system.
Approach
The review focused specifically on the statistics collected as part of the official injury statistics programme. As a first step, stakeholder feedback was sought on the current programme and how the programme could be improved in the future. The attached terms of reference for this early work is provided.
Questionnaire feedback, email responses and verbal comments were received from twenty-four organisations and individual stakeholders. The draft feedback report was then circulated for consideration and comment. The report was finalised and the full report is now available to be downloaded.
The second phase of the review began with the Injury Information Senior Officials Group convened. The Group’s primary role was to draw together a set of priorities for action that can be taken to the Injury Surveillance Ministerial Advisory Panel and the broader injury statistics sector as an ‘Agenda for Action’. The Agenda formed the basis of the development of the Official Injury Information Plan for 2009, which was published in April 2009.