Data and Statistics New Zealand Cancer Registry (NZCR)

The New Zealand Cancer Registry is a population-based register of all primary malignant tumours diagnosed in New Zealand, excluding squamous and basal cell skin cancers. NZCR provides data for public health research, policy formulation, monitoring screening programmes, and cancer incidence and survival studies. More information on the New Zealand Cancer Registry is provided below: Scope Start date Information sources Tumour coding Data processing timeframes Security of data Privacy issues National reports and publications Data provision Contact information Back to National data collections Scope Purpose The Cancer Registry Act 1993 states that the purposes of the New Zealand Cancer Registry are: To provide information on the incidence of, and mortality from, cancer; and To provide a basis for cancer survival studies and research programmes. Content A summary of the variables to be reported is contained in the Cancer Registry Regulations 1994. Back to top Start date The NZCR was set up in 1948 primarily using information sent by public hospitals. The Cancer Registry Act 1993 and Cancer Registry Regulations 1994 were introduced to increase reporting of primary cancers in New Zealand. Since this legislation came into effect laboratory test results have been collected, and data quality and completeness have significantly improved. Back to top Information sources Laboratories are the primary source of cancer data for the NZCR. They are required by law to report any new diagnosis of cancer in New Zealand, excluding squamous and basal cell skin cancers. Laboratories meet this requirement by providing copies of relevant pathology reports to NZCR. Since 2003 most pathology reports have been sent electronically. Additional data sources include: Medical Certificates of Causes of Death, Coroners’ Findings, hospital discharge data on the National Minimum Dataset (NMDS), and private hospital discharge returns. Back to top Tumour coding The tumours are classified using the WHO International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD), and the WHO International Classification of Diseases for Oncology (ICD-O). Staging information is collected where available. Because pathology reports are the main source of data this information is most complete for tumours where the primary treatment is surgical (e.g. melanoma, breast and colorectal cancers). Back to top Data processing timeframes Some types/sites of cancer are of particular interest to researchers and the processing of these cancers is treated as a priority. These types/sites include: melanoma, prostate, breast, cervix, colorectal, lung, and haematological cancers. The processing of data for these priority cancers is kept up to date to within three months of receipt of laboratory reports. Back to top Security of data The NZCR system is only accessed by authorised Ministry of Health staff for maintenance, data quality, analytical and audit purposes. Any paper records are stored in a locked office with swipe-card security. Back to top Privacy issues The Ministry of Health is required to ensure that the release of information recognises any legislation related to the privacy of health information, in particular the Official Information Act 1982, the Privacy Act 1993 and the Health Information Privacy Code 1994. Information available to the general public is of a statistical and non-identifiable nature. Researchers requiring identifiable data will usually need approval from an Ethics Committee. Back to top National reports and publications Sector Services publishes an annual report Cancer – New Registrations and Deaths. This publication contains detailed information on numbers and rates of cancers according to year of registration. More timely provisional cancer data for the priority sites is posted in the Cancer area of the Subjects A-Z section of this site. Back to top Data provision Customised datasets or summary reports are available on request, either electronically or on paper. Staff from Sector Services Analytical Services team can help to define the specifications for a request and are familiar with the strengths and weaknesses of the data. The Sector Services Analytical Services team also offer a peer review service to ensure that Sector Services data is reported appropriately when published by other organisations. There may be charges associated with data extracts. Back to top Contact information For further information about this collection or to request specific datasets or reports email data-enquiries@moh.govt.nz. Back to top Website feedback We welcome your feedback on this webpage. Page last updated: 14 January 2010