Purchase unit codes
Information on purchase unit codes used for services provided under the New Zealand Health Plan.
Pātiki and Waharua Kōpito patterns
On this page
About purchase unit codes
A purchase unit (PU) code is part of a classification system used to consistently measure, quantify and value a service.
The purchase unit data dictionary (PUDD) is a spreadsheet that contains all PU codes for counting of, funding and contracting for health services.
The PUDD includes the following information.
- Tab a – PU codes for health services.
- Tab b – a mapping table to provide mapping information of PU codes retired since version 16.3.
- Tab c – definitions for units of measure, and output classes (the same as contained in Health NZ Statement of Performance Expectations).
- Tab d – links to nationwide service specifications used when using certain PU codes.
- Tab e – is a combination of any changes made to the latest version of the PUDD.
- Tab f – PU codes for National Non-admitted Patient Data Collection (NNPAC).
- Acronyms and Abbreviations used in the PUDD.
Guide to purchase unit codes
The Guide to Purchase Units and the PUDD (DOCX 194.38KB) [DOCX, 194 KB] provides general information on purchase units, the PUDD and how to request a new purchase unit.
The PUDD must be used in conjunction with the Common Counting Standards.
Request for new purchase unit codes
To request a new purchase unit code read the guide, then fill out the request template (XLS 58KB) [XLSX, 58 KB] and email it to the NSFL team at nsf@tewhatuora.govt.nz
Current purchase unit data dictionary
Purchase Unit Data Dictionary 2025/26
Version 30.1 for use from 1 July 2025 to 20 June 2026
PUDD v30.1
Version 30.1 of the Purchase Unit Data Dictionary (PUDD) [XLSX, 1.2 MB] contains purchase unit codes for counting or contracting for health services for the 2025/26 financial year.
Changes Sheets
The changes sheet for PUDD 2025/26 v30.1 can be found here:
Changes sheet for PUDD 2025/26 v30.1 [XLSX, 62 KB]
Feedback or queries on the data dictionary and purchase unit codes can be sent to nsf@tewhatuora.govt.nz
Purchase Units for National Collections
The Purchase Units for National Collections in Changes Sheet v30.1 can be reported to the non-admitted patient collection (NNPAC) for the 2025/26 financial year and includes whether these purchase units are mandatory for reporting.
Download the Purchase Units for National Collections [CSV, 53 KB]
As required in the Operational Policy Framework, all providers contracted to provide publicly funded services supply NNPAC data to National Collections and Reporting (NCR) at the Ministry of Health for all mandatory reporting purchase units; providers may also supply data for optional reporting purchase units.
Previous purchase unit dictionaries
Purchase Unit Data Dictionary 2025/26
Purchase Unit Data Dictionary 2025/26
PUDD v30
Version 30 of the Purchase Unit Data Dictionary (PUDD) (XLS 1.5MB) [XLSX, 1.5 MB] contains purchase unit codes for counting or contracting for health services for the 2025/26 financial year.
Changes Sheets
The changes sheet for PUDD 2025/26 v30 can be found here:
Changes sheet for PUDD 2025/26 v30 (XLS 45KB) [XLSX, 45 KB]
Feedback or queries on the data dictionary and purchase unit codes can be sent to nsf@tewhatuora.govt.nz
Purchase Units for National Collections
The Purchase Units for National Collections in Changes Sheet v30 can be reported to the non-admitted patient collection (NNPAC) for the 2025/26 financial year and includes whether these purchase units are mandatory for reporting.
Download the Purchase Units for National Collections (XLS 54KB) [CSV, 54 KB]
As required in the Operational Policy Framework, all providers contracted to provide publicly funded services supply NNPAC data to National Collections and Reporting (NCR) at the Ministry of Health for all mandatory reporting purchase units; providers may also supply data for optional reporting purchase units.
Purchase Unit Data Dictionary 2024/25
Purchase Unit Data Dictionary 2024/25
Version 29.2 for use from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025
PUDD v29.2
Version 29.2 of the Purchase Unit Data Dictionary (PUDD) (XLSX 1MB) (external link) contains purchase unit codes for counting or contracting for health services for the 2024/25 financial year.
Changes Sheets
The changes sheet for PUDD 2024/25 v29.2 can be found here:
Changes sheet for PUDD 2024/25 v29.2 (XLSX 65KB) (external link)
Feedback or queries on the data dictionary and purchase unit codes can be sent to nsf@tewhatuora.govt.nz
Purchase Units for National Collections
The Purchase Units for National Collections in Changes Sheet v29.1 can be reported to the non-admitted patient collection (NNPAC) for the 2024/25 financial year and includes whether these purchase units are mandatory for reporting.
Download the Purchase Units for National Collections (XLSX 45KB) (external link)
As required in the Operational Policy Framework, all providers contracted to provide publicly funded services supply NNPAC data to National Collections and Reporting (NCR) at the Ministry of Health for all mandatory reporting purchase units; providers may also supply data for optional reporting purchase units.
Version 29.1 for use from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025
PUDD v29.1
Version 29.1 of the Purchase Unit Data Dictionary (PUDD) (XLSX 1000KB) (external link) contains purchase unit codes for counting or contracting for health services for the 2024/25 financial year.
Changes Sheets
The changes sheet for PUDD 2024/25 v29.1 can be found here (external link) (XLSX 54KB).
Feedback or queries on the data dictionary and purchase unit codes can be sent to nsf@tewhatuora.govt.nz
Purchase Units for National Collections
The Purchase Units for National Collections in Changes Sheet v29.1 can be reported to the non-admitted patient collection (NNPAC) for the 2024/25 financial year and includes whether these purchase units are mandatory for reporting. Purchase Units for National Collections can be found here (external link) (XLSX 46KB).
As required in the Operational Policy Framework, all providers contracted to provide publicly funded services supply NNPAC data to National Collections and Reporting (NCR) at the Ministry of Health for all mandatory reporting purchase units; providers may also supply data for optional reporting purchase units.
Version 29 for use from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025.
PUDD v29
Version 29 of the Purchase Unit Data Dictionary (PUDD) (XLSX 1000KB) [XLSX, 1001 KB] contains purchase unit codes for counting or contracting for health services for the 2024/25 financial year.
Changes Sheets
The changes sheet for PUDD 2024/25 v29 can be found here [XLSX, 54 KB] (XLSX 54KB).
Feedback or queries on the data dictionary and purchase unit codes can be sent to nsf@tewhatuora.govt.nz
Purchase Units for National Collections
The Purchase Units for National Collections in Changes Sheet v29 can be reported to the non-admitted patient collection (NNPAC) for the 2024/25 financial year and includes whether these purchase units are mandatory for reporting. Purchase Units for National Collections can be found here [XLSX, 46 KB] (XLSX 46KB).
As required in the Operational Policy Framework, all providers contracted to provide publicly funded services supply NNPAC data to National Collections and Reporting (NCR) at the Ministry of Health for all mandatory reporting purchase units; providers may also supply data for optional reporting purchase units.
Purchase Unit Data Dictionary 2023/24
Purchase Unit Data Dictionary 2023/24
Version 28.1 for use from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024.
PUDD v28.1
Version 28.1 of the Purchase Unit Data Dictionary (PUDD) (XLSX 966KB) [XLSX, 966 KB] contains purchase unit codes for counting or contracting for health services for the 2023/24 financial year.
Version v28 can be found here [XLSX, 943 KB] (XLSL 970KB)
Changes Sheets
The changes sheet for PUDD 2023/24 v28.2 can be found here [XLSX, 41 KB]. (XLSX 41KB)
Feedback or queries on the data dictionary and purchase unit codes can be sent to nsfl@health.govt.nz (external link).
Purchase Units for National Collections
The Purchase Units for National Collections in Changes Sheet v28.1 can be reported to the non-admitted patient collection (NNPAC) for the 2022/23 financial year and includes whether these purchase units are mandatory for reporting. Purchase Units for National Collections can be found here [XLSX, 46 KB].
As required in the Operational Policy Framework, all providers contracted to provide publicly funded services supply NNPAC data to National Collections and Reporting (NCR) at the Ministry of Health for all mandatory reporting purchase units; providers may also supply data for optional reporting purchase units.
PUDD V28
Version 28 of the Purchase Unit Data Dictionary (PUDD) (XLSX 943KB) [XLSX, 943 KB] contains purchase unit codes for counting or contracting for health services for the 2023/24 financial year.
Changes Sheets
The Changes sheet for PUDD 2023/24 v28 can be found here [XLSX, 41 KB].
Feedback or queries on the data dictionary and purchase unit codes can be sent to nsfl@health.govt.nz (external link).
Purchase Units for National Collections
The Purchase Units for National Collections in Changes Sheet v8 can be reported to the non-admitted patient collection (NNPAC) for the 2022/23 financial year and includes whether these purchase units are mandatory for reporting. Purchase Units for National Collections can be found here [XLSX, 967 KB].
As required in the Operational Policy Framework, all providers contracted to provide publicly funded services supply NNPAC data to National Collections and Reporting (NCR) at the Ministry of Health for all mandatory reporting purchase units; providers may also supply data for optional reporting purchase units.
Purchase Unit Data Dictionary 2022/23
Purchase Unit Data Dictionary 2022/23
Version v27 for use from 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023
Version 27.1 of the Purchase unit data dictionary (PUDD) (XLSX 933KB) [XLSX, 933 KB]contains purchase unit codes for counting or contracting for health services for the 2022/23 financial year.
The Changes sheet for PUDD 2022/23 v27.1 can be found here [XLSX, 42 KB].(XLSX 42KB)
Feedback or queries on the data dictionary and purchase unit codes can be sent to nsfl@health.govt.nz (external link).
Purchase Units for National Collections
The Purchase Units for National Collections in Changes Sheet v27.1 can be reported to the non-admitted patient collection (NNPAC) for the 2022/23 financial year and includes whether these purchase units are mandatory for reporting.
As required in the Operational Policy Framework, all providers contracted to provide publicly funded services supply NNPAC data to National Collections and Reporting (NCR) at the Ministry of Health for all mandatory reporting purchase units; providers may also supply data for optional reporting purchase units.
Purchase Unit Data Dictionary 2021/22
Purchase Unit Data Dictionary 2021/22
Version v26 for use from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022
Last updated 22 December 2021
PUDD V26.2
Version 26.2 of the Purchase unit data dictionary (PUDD) (XLSX 957KB) [XLSX, 957 KB] contains purchase unit codes for counting or contracting for health services for the 2021/22 financial year.
Changes Sheets for 2021/22
The Change sheet for PUDD 2021/22 v26.2 can be found here [XLSX, 38 KB]. (XLSX 38KB)
Feedback or queries on the data dictionary and purchase unit codes can be sent to nsfl@health.govt.nz.
Purchase Units for National Collections v26
The Purchase Units for National Collections v26 includes the purchase units that can be reported to the non-admitted patient collection (NNPAC) for the 2021/22 financial year and includes whether these purchase units are mandatory for reporting.
As required in the Operational Policy Framework, all providers contracted to provide publicly funded services supply NNPAC data to National Collections and Reporting (NCR) at the Ministry of Health for all mandatory reporting purchase units; providers may also supply data for optional reporting purchase units.
Common counting standards
Published July 2021
Standards to guide counting and reporting of outpatient activity
The Common Counting Standards outline how health activity should be defined, measured and counted to support the planning of health services.
The Standards support funding and costing decisions, and they contribute towards a sound platform from which pricing can be derived.They provide clear business rules for a consistent approach when using existing purchase unit (PU) codes from the Purchase Unit Data Dictionary, and when developing new PU codes.
Version 1.1 has been updated to align with National collection rules (NNPAC and NMDS).The original standards were developed by the Common Counting Technical Advisory Group, a cross DHB-Ministry group.
The Common Counting Standards 2013/14 was updated in January 2017, and replaced in March 2021 by version 1.1a.
Common Counting Standards March 2021 version 1.1a (DOCX 92KB) [DOCX, 92 KB]
Common Counting Standards March 2021 version 1.1a (PDF 769KB) [PDF, 769 KB]