Confidentialised Unit Record Files (CURFs) 
Confidentialised Unit Record Files (CURFs) and microdata are unit record statistical data that have been modified to protect the confidentiality of respondents while also maintaining the integrity of the data.
An agreement between Statistics New Zealand and the Council of New Zealand University Librarians (CONZUL) was signed in August 2009 which provides a range of data, statistics for universities, including access to both New Zealand and Australian Confidentialised Unit Record Files (CURFs).
Statistics New Zealand and the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) provide different CURF datasets, that are accessed and applied for through different procedures, details of which are set out below:
Who can use CURFs?
Any current staff member or student of the University of Auckland is eligible to use CURFs
Statistics New Zealand CURFs
Access to Statistics New Zealand CURFs
Access to Statistics New Zealand CURFs and microdata is controlled to ensure that data is not misused. Further information on the security and confidentiality of data and other factors that influence the nature of microdata access at Statistics New Zealand are detailed in the Microdata access policy.
Access to New Zealand CURFs is subject to Statistics New Zealand key rules:
Authorisation is required to access the data, and an application form for either Basic or Expanded CURFs data must be completed, submitted and approved before access is enabled and a licence is issued and released either on CD-ROM, or through the Access to Microdat (AtoM) service. AtoM is based on the Remote Access Data Lab (RADL) system developed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
If you're not sure how to use CURFs once you have been authorised you can either access the Australian Bureau of Statistics web site - CURFs or Statistics New Zealand website -CURFs for more information.
Statistics New Zealand CURFs data packages
Statistics New Zealand data packages available are:
and Basic Confidentialised Unit Record Files (CURFs):
- Survey of Dynamics and Motivations for Migration in New Zealand, 2007
- Household Labour Force Survey / New Zealand Income Survey, 2004
- New Zealand Income Survey, 2003, Basic and Expanded
- New Zealand Income Survey, 2002, Basic and Expanded
- New Zealand Census of Population and Dwellings, 2001
- Household Savings Survey, 2001, Basic and Expanded
The tables for each dataset are released at regular intervals.
There was a CURFs workshop held at the University of Auckland on 14 July 2010, and the presentation notes are available
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) CURFs
In addition to the New Zealand CURFs which are available, Auckland University staff and students also have the opportunity to apply for access to CURFs produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. ABS/Statistics NZ reciprocal CURF access arrangements.
Access to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) CURFs
Any University of Auckland staff member or student seeking access to an Australian CURF must complete, submit, and have approved the ABS application and researcher Deed of Undertaking forms, which are available on MiCRO, an online application process, before access is enabled. This Deed legally binds the applicant to comply with ABS terms and conditions of CURF access.
There is a detailed guide for CURF users and a chart illustrating a step by step guide to Managing ABS Confidentialised Unit Record Files (CURFs): on how to apply to access ABS CURFs.
Existing microdata users may apply for access to further CURFs using MiCRO, the ABS online CURF registration form
Once approval has been granted, the CURF will be available via the ABS Remote Access Data Laboratory (RADL).
Consideration will be given to applications for Expanded CURFs that meet the following criteria:
- The research will be for a statistical purpose.
- The researchers will have a proven history of research, or will be supervised by someone with a proven history of research.
- The researchers must have the support of the organisation that employs them (eg a government department, university, or independent research firm).
If you're not sure how to use CURFs once you have been authorised you can either access the Australian Bureau of Statistics web site - CURFs or Statistics New Zealand website -CURFs for more information.
Australian Bureau of Statistics CURFs data packages
Click on the CURF title below to see a summary of its content. This includes the number of confidentialised individual statistical records, and their characteristics (geographic, socio-demographic, employment etc). The summary usually includes a link to a Technical Manual/Information Paper which provides more detailed information for each CURF.
Some CURFs are released with special conditions of use. When applying for these CURFs, both the organisation's Responsible Officer and each Individual User need to complete and submit a Special Conditions form.
Australian Bureau of Statistics list of CURFs
Adult Literacy and Lifeskills (2006) Basic* and Expanded
Aspects of Literacy (1996) Basic*
Australian Housing Survey (1994) Basic*
Australian Housing Survey (1999) Basic*
Australians' Employment and Unemployment Patterns (1994-97) Basic* and Expanded. Special Conditions apply to the use of this CURF
Business Longitudinal Survey (1994-98) Basic*
Census 1981 - Household Sample File (1981) Basic*
Census 1986 - Household Sample File (State/Territory or Section of State) (1986) Basic*
Census 1991 - Household Sample File (1991) Basic*
Census 1996 - Household Sample File (1996) Basic*
Census 2001 - Household Sample File (2001) Basic* and Expanded
Census of Population and Housing (2006) Basic*
Census of Population and Housing (2006) Expanded
Childhood Education and Care (June 2008) Expanded
Child Care Arrangements Survey (1984) Basic*
Child Care Survey (1993) Basic*
Child Care Survey (1996) Basic*
Child Care Survey (1999) Basic* and Expanded
Child Care Survey (2002) Expanded
Child Care Survey (2005) Expanded (Reissue)
Disability, Ageing and Carers (1993) Basic*
Disability, Ageing and Carers (1998) Basic*
Disability, Ageing and Carers (2003) Basic*
Domiciliary Services, Victoria (1986) Basic*
Education and Training Experience (1989) (How teachers get their training) Basic*
Education and Training Experience (1993) Basic
Education and Training Experience (1997) Basic
Education and Training (2001) Basic*
Education and Training (2005) Basic* and Expanded
Education and Work (2001) Basic*
Education and Work (2003) Basic*
Education and Work (2005) Basic*
Education and Work (2007) Basic*
Employee Earnings and Hours (2006) Expanded
Employment Arrangements, Retirement and Superannuation (2007) Expanded
Families in Australia (1992) Basic*
Family Characteristics Survey (2003) Expanded. Special Conditions apply to the use of this CURF
Family Characteristics and Transitions (2006-07) Expanded
Forms of Employment (1998) Basic*
General Social Survey (2002) Basic* and Expanded
General Social Survey (2006) Basic* and Expanded
Household Expenditure Survey (1975-76) Basic*
Household Expenditure Survey (1984) Basic*
Household Expenditure Survey, Australia, 1988-89, Second Edition, Basic*
Household Expenditure Survey (1993-94), Second Edition (FIS) Basic*
Household Expenditure Survey (1998-99) Third Edition Basic*
Household Expenditure Survey and the Survey of Income and Housing (HES/SIH) (2003-04) Third Edition Basic*and Expanded. Special Conditions apply to the use of this CURF
Income and Housing Survey (1981-82) Basic*
Income Distribution Survey (1986) Basic*
Income and Housing Costs Survey (1990) Basic*
Income and Housing Costs Survey (1994-95) Basic*
Income and Housing Costs Survey (1996-97) Basic*
Income and Housing Costs Survey (1997-98) Basic*
Income and Housing Costs Survey (1999-00) Basic*
Income and Housing Costs Survey (2000-01) Basic* and Expanded
Income and Housing Survey (2002-03) Basic* and Expanded
Income and Housing Survey (2005-06) Second Edition, Basic* and Expanded. Special Conditions apply to the use of the Expanded CURF
Income and Housing Survey (2007-08) Basic* and Expanded. Special Conditions apply to the use of the Expanded CURF
Innovation in Australian Business (2003) Expanded. Special Conditions apply to the use of this CURF
Labour Force Status and Other Characteristics of Recent Migrants (2007) Expanded
Labour Force Survey and Employee Earnings, Benefits and Trade Union Membership (August 2004) Basic*
Labour Force Survey and Employee Earnings, Benefits and Trade Union Membership, Australia (2006) Basic* and Expanded
Labour Force Survey and Employee Earnings, Benefits and Trade Union Membership, Australia (August 2008) Basic* and Expanded
Labour Mobility (1984) Basic*
Labour Mobility (1991) Basic*
Labour Mobility (1994) Basic*
Labour Force Survey and Labour Mobility Survey (2006) Basic*
Labour Force Survey and Labour Mobility Survey (2008) Basic* and Expanded
Mental Health and Wellbeing of Adults, Australia, Second Revised (1997) Basic*
Mental Health and Wellbeing of Adults, Western Australia (1997) Basic
Multi Purpose Household Survey (2004-05) Expanded
Multi Purpose Household Survey (2005-06) Expanded
Multi Purpose Household Survey (2006-07) Expanded
Multipurpose Household Survey, Expanded CURF, Australia, 2007-2008 Expanded
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey (2004-05) Expanded. Special Conditions apply to the use of this CURF
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Survey (1994) Basic* and Expanded
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey (2002) Expanded. Special Conditions apply to the use of this CURF
National Crime and Safety Survey (2002) Expanded
National Crime and Safety Survey (2005) Expanded
National Health Survey (1977-78) Basic*
National Health Survey (1983) Basic*
National Health Survey (1989-90) Basic*
National Health Survey (1995) Basic*
National Health Survey (2001) Basic* and Expanded
National Health Survey (2004-05) Basic* and Expanded
National Health Survey (2007-08) Basic*
National Health Survey, Indigenous (2001) Expanded
National Nutrition Survey (1995) Basic*
National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing 2007 Basic* and Expanded
Personal Fraud, Expanded CURF, Australia, 2007
Personal Safety Survey (2005) Expanded
Pregnancy and Employment Transitions (2005) Expanded
Rental Investors' Survey (1993) Basic*
Rental Investors' Survey (1997) Basic*
Rental Tenants Survey (1994) Basic*
Superannuation and Employment Arrangements Survey (2000) Expanded
Time Use Survey (1992) Basic*
Time Use Survey (1997) Basic* and Expanded
Time Use Survey (2006) Basic* and Expanded
Voluntary Work Survey (2000) Basic*
Women's Safety Survey (1996) Basic*
Australian Bureau of Statistics List of expected CURFs intended for release. The release dates shown are indicative only
Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) are available to assist if you have any queries.
Citing CURFs in references
If you wish to cite CURFs in references, please refer to Citing CURFs for details.
Completion of data use
Once research and use of a either Statistics New Zealand or the Australian Bureau of Standards CURF is completed, the CURF must be sent to the Contact Officer for return. Gillian Ralph, Business and Economics Information Services, telephone 3737599 x 81699 or g.ralph@auckland.ac.nz
Statistics consulting service
The University of Auckland Statistics Department operates a Statistical Consulting Service that provides statistical services on either a fee per service or retainer basis to internal and external clients. The Service can call on several experienced consultants with a wide range of experience and expertise, where enquiries are welcome at any time. Services provided include:
- Advice on design of studies
- All types of data analysis
- Expert witness service
- Survey design and analysis
- Advice on statistical computing packages
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