Government Recordkeeping Surveys

What are the Government Recordkeeping Surveys?

Archives New Zealand runs an annual government recordkeeping survey which utilises section 31 of the Public Records Act. This requires the mandatory provision of information from government departments and other state sector organisations. We use the results of the survey to track indicators of improvement in recordkeeping across government including:

  1. Creating and maintaining full and accurate records
  2. Awareness of the regulatory environment
  3. Training and education
  4. Disposal, transfer and access decisions

Since 2008 our annual survey has also included Local Authorities. While their completion of the survey is not mandatory we do encourage Local Authorities to particpate in the survey to give us a better picture of recordkeeping in local government and allow us to better target our products and services.
 
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About the 2010 Survey

This year Archives New Zealand commissioned The Nielsen Company to undertake the annual survey of recordkeeping in government. The project had four broad phases:

  1. Prepare for the Survey
  2. Conduct the survey
  3. Report on the survey
  4. Communicate results

Copies of the 2010 survey reports, as well as reports from previous years' surveys, can be found in the section Documents and links.
 
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Survey Results

Each agency that participates in the survey receives a summary of their survey results. This includes a summary of your answers and compares the results from your agency with those of all survey participants.
 
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How do we use the Survey Results?

The results from the annual recordkeeping surveys allow us to identify current recordkeeping issues across government and enable us to target our advice, services and products.
The results of the survey of public offices also form the basis of the Chief Archivist’s Annual Report to Parliament on the State of Government Recordkeeping. In this there are a number of important recommendations on aspects of current recordkeeping practice public offices must develop over the coming year. The Annual Report on the State of Government Recordkeeping gets tabled in Parliament.
 
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Documents and Links

2010 Survey:
Full Report on 2010 Government Recordkeeping Survey (Public Offices)
Full Report on 2010 Government Recordkeeping Survey (Local Authorities)
2009 Survey:
Full Report on 2009 Government Recordkeeping Survey (Public Offices)
Full Report on 2009 Government Recordkeeping Survey (Local Authorities)
2008 Survey:
Full Report on 2008 Government Recordkeeping Survey (Public Offices)
Full Report on 2008 Government Recordkeeping Survey (Local Authorities)
2007 Survey:
Full Report on 2007 Government Recordkeeping Survey
 
Annual Report 2007 (includes the Annual Report on Recordkeeping)
 
2006 Survey:
Annual Report 2006 (includes the Annual Report on Recordkeeping)

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Where to Find out More

If you have any questions about the Annual Government Recordkeeping Surveys please contact:

The Government Recordkeeping Programme
Archives New Zealand
Telephone: (04) 499 5595
Email: rkadvice@archives.govt.nz

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