New data warehouse cuts immunisation query times to minutes

NEWS - eHealthNews.nz editor Rebecca McBeth 

The National Public Health Service has developed a modern data warehouse that automates reporting and has cut immunisation query times from weeks to minutes. 

The NPHS Intelligence national manager improvement and performance, Becky Cassie says the new data warehouse, built on Snowflake technology, brings together previously siloed datasets to provide a more comprehensive view of public health information across the motu. 

Cassie, who is presenting on the programme of work at Digital Health Week NZ this November, explains that rather than simply storing raw data, the system creates ‘analytical ready datasets’ that enable automation of regular analyses as well as easy exploration.  

"We have automated a large part of how we present our balanced scorecards to monitor performance, including our NPHS highest level metrics and our health target indicators as well," Cassie says. 

"It previously took weeks to answer simple questions like, how many 18-month-olds in Dannevirke were immunised in March last year? Now it takes six or seven minutes”. 

The warehouse already holds key National Public Health Service datasets including the Aotearoa Immunisation Register, notifiable disease management systems, and various screening registers.  

Other datasets, such as alcohol premises licensing data, will be included as well. 

Cassie says the efficiency gains have freed up analysts to focus on more complex work, including forecasting and deeper analysis of immunisation patterns.  

The aim is to shift the mahi towards predictive modelling that could identify early indicators for positive health outcomes, as opposed to reporting what has already happened.  

The NPHS is also planning to provide roles-based access for staff, rather than granting access to specific datasets. 

"We are trying to apply a model where you should access the data you need to do your job, which could change day-to-day,” she says. 

Future plans include working closely with clinical advisors to make data more accessible to healthcare professionals. 

“We want to get clinicians seeing what data is available for themselves, and directly working with analysts on how they can use it to solve a problem” says Cassie. 

Hear Becky Cassie speak at Digital Health Week this November 24-27, 2025 at Te Pae in Ōtautahi Christchurch. Register to attend here. 

Read more about the work of NPHS in this view from director of intelligence, Juliet Rumball-Smith.

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