SA2 and GCH coding are both New Zealand geographic classification systems used for organising, analysing, and reporting health and population data.
What is SA2 (Statistical Area 2)?
SA2 is a geographic unit defined by Stats NZ used to group populations of roughly 1,000–4,000 people. It forms the backbone of the New Zealand population statistics and is used extensively in government and health sector reporting. You can read more on the Stats NZ website.
What is GCH (Geographic Classification for Health)?
A New Zealand specific classification system developed to help health organisations understand the geographic context of their clients. For example, whether they live in urban, rural, or remote areas. This matters for funding models, service planning, and population health reporting. You can read more about this on the Otago University website.
What does this mean for me?
For New Zealand health organisations, having SA2 and GCH codes automatically assigned to client addresses means:
- No manual classification work - codes are looked up automatically from the client's address.
- Compliance with reporting requirements
- Better population health insights - organisations can segment and report their client base by geographic health classification.
- Alignment with Stats NZ and Ministry of Health data standards, making it easier to contribute to national datasets and funding applications.
Who are the SA2 and GCH codes for?
infoodle performs the calculation of the SA2 and GCH coding automatically for clients who:
- Have their default country for people set to New Zealand (to check this setting, go to administration > system > people)
- Have the latitude and longitude automation enabled
When are the SA2 and GCH codes calculated?
Every time an address is added or updated the latitude and longitude are calculated automatically. Then the SA2 and GCH coding are calculated within a few seconds.
Where do I see the SA2 and GCH codes?
Once calculated they will show underneath the address details on a person's profile.
Can I see the SA2 and GCH codes in reports?
Yes, it's available as a field which you can select on the select fields tab. Find out more about Reporting a Household/Organisation's Details.