GA4 Implementation Across 20+ Government Websites to Future-Proof Web Tracking

By implementing GA4 tracking across 20+ government websites, DataStory ensured that Health Promotion | Te Whatu Ora could navigate digital transformation with confidence.

The PARTNER

Te Whatu Ora is a government organisation providing essential health services to New Zealanders. Its Health Promotion directorate hosts over 20 websites with national campaigns and information on harm prevention and the promotion of healthy lives.

Data Story Services

Analytics & Tracking

Quick WINS

20

Plus websites - accurate website performance data

1

hour response time to digital queries—answers

4

GA4 - Streamlined data collection for long-term strategic decision-making

The CHALLENGE

Health Promotion faced a major challenge with their digital tracking infrastructure. The existing Google Analytics implementation was outdated and inconsistently applied across 20+ websites. With Google’s upgrade to GA4, their data would have been lost unless they migrated quickly and efficiently.

Beyond simple tracking, they also needed future-proofed web analytics that could provide actionable insights for various teams across different healthcare divisions.

This required: 1. Smart, efficient data tracking that worked across all websites 2. Consistent event planning to capture meaningful data for decision-making 3. Scalability to accommodate future website changes and evolving digital strategies

Without a structured approach, their digital reporting would be fragmented, unreliable, and reactive. This would make it difficult to answer queries, measure performance or optimise user experience. Previously, decisions were made from page views and engagement time, which perhaps were not the most meaningful or insightful data points to make decisions.

THE STRATEGY

Our approach involved planning and collaboration to ensure accurate tracking across all digital assets.

What we did:

By creating structured, future-proofed tracking, we ensured that Te Whatu Ora could make data-driven decisions with confidence.

We developed a robust tracking framework aligned with business goals and the user journey and collaborated closely with the client to identify critical events and ensure clarity in data reporting.

We implemented GA4 using Google Tag Manager (GTM), leveraging Google’s documentation for best practices and ran test scenarios with live data to validate tracking accuracy and ensure insights were meaningful.

We designed interactive dashboards so the client could self-serve and access insights instantly.

‍

We developed a robust tracking framework aligned with business goals and the user journey and collaborated closely with the client to identify critical events and ensure clarity in data reporting.

We implemented GA4 using Google Tag Manager (GTM), leveraging Google’s documentation for best practices and ran test scenarios with live data to validate tracking accuracy and ensure insights were meaningful.

We designed interactive dashboards so the client could self-serve and access insights instantly.

‍

The results

With accurate data, streamlined reporting, and deeper insights, Te Whatu Ora are now well-equipped to make data-driven decisions that improve healthcare accessibility for all New Zealanders.

✅ Faster Insights - The new tracking system enables the client to answer data-related queries from Parliamentary Questions and as part of OIAs and have to be answered in a certain timeframe.

✅ Self-Serve Analytics - We moved key metrics into interactive dashboards, giving the client direct access to insights. This future proofs any changes in staff or systems.

✅ Ongoing Optimisation - From the events that we implemented Health Promotion are now using this data to inform website refreshes and content strategies (this point is expanded in a further case study in which we use the data to inform UX decisions).

DataStory has been awesome to work with. Some of our internal advisors now have a level of oversight that they have never seen before. For our digital practitioners, DataStory is an invaluable part of the team and also provided added value as peer reviewers.

Genie Tay

Senior Content Designer, Health Promotion

Key Takeaways

🔹 Less is More – Using specific parameter techniques, we optimised tracking without unnecessary complexity.

🔹 Goal-Oriented Tracking – Always align tracking with the client’s business goals and user journey.

🔹 GA4 is an Insights Tool, Not a Measurement Tool – While GA4 isn’t 100% accurate, it’s a powerful resource for trends and actionable insights.