Most
New Zealanders continue to believe they have a very high quality of
life, according to the results of a national survey released today - 9
March 2009.
The biennial Quality of Life survey measures the perceptions of over
8,100 residents living in some of the country’s largest cities and
districts. Conducted by research company Nielsen, the survey is jointly
funded by the 12 participating Councils and the Ministry of Social
Development. The survey sample comprised 500 telephone interviews in
each of the 12 cities and districts and 1,500 residents from the rest
of New Zealand, plus 500 residents in the Wellington and Auckland
regions (living outside of the larger cities in those regions).
Ninety two percent of residents living in the 12 cities rated their
overall quality of life positively, with the same proportion of
respondents living outside of these main areas rating it positively.
Similarly, 87 percent of 12 cities residents viewed their overall
health as favourable. Those who rated their health the best live in
Wellington and Rodney, while those who rated it less favourably live in
Waitakere, Manukau and Lower Hutt.
Standards of living within our major cities and districts were also
positive, with the majority of people interviewed (86% 12 cities, 88%
‘rest of New Zealand’) saying they had enough money to cover the cost
of their everyday lives.
Jim Harland, Quality of Life Project Sponsor, said the survey results
are heartening and “show that people’s experiences of life in New
Zealand’s major cities and districts are generally very positive.
However, the results still highlight areas to which both local and
central government policy makers need to devote greater attention.
Residents in our cities appear to be well placed to deal with the
current economic downturn. However, our quality of life may well be
affected over the short to medium term as the recession continues.
Maintaining standards of living and quality of life will be a major
focus for all of us in the foreseeable future.”
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