Auckland Council has released the result of its latest quality of life survey, with 82% of respondents positively rating their overall wellbeing.
The 2022 Rangahau te Korou o te Ora / Quality of Life Survey, which is undertaken every two years, is a collaborative local government research project that collects data on a range of current and topical issues relevant to residents’ wellbeing in urban New Zealand.
Auckland Council’s Team Manager, Economic and Social Research and Evaluation, Alison Reid says while it’s great to see that the majority of respondents in Tāmaki Makaurau are happy with their quality of life overall, the results are also a reminder that there are ongoing challenges facing many Aucklanders.
“Tāmaki Makaurau is a special place, due to its unique environment, ethnic and cultural diversity, and the social and economic opportunities it offers. But as the population continues to increase, and the cost of living rises, we see continued reporting among some of a lack of pride in their local area, economic stress and social isolation,” she said.
“The survey findings highlight the significant impact that COVID-19 and associated economic ramifications has had on people’s wellbeing. It also shows that many Aucklanders are worried about the impacts of climate change on the future of Auckland.
“The results will be used by the council to help plan for the future and to monitor economic, social and environmental outcomes, such as outlined in the Auckland Plan 2050 and Ngā Hapori Momoho, our Thriving Communities Strategy.”
Three quarters (75%) of respondents agree that their local area is a great place to live and over half (56%) agree they feel proud of the way their local area looks and feels.
It’s not all good news though. Housing affordability remains a key issue across the country, and 48% of Auckland respondents did not agree that their current housing costs were affordable.
Crime was another key concern raised in the survey, with residents worried about theft and burglary (70%), dangerous driving (66%) and vandalism (61%) in their local areas.
The survey also shows that COVID-19 has negatively impacted on respondents’ physical health (48%), mental health (65%) and financial wellbeing (47%).
Almost half (44%) of Auckland respondents said they were worried about the impact of climate change on the future of Auckland.
Read the full Topline Report on the Quality of Life website.
The fieldwork and analysis were undertaken by NielsenIQ. Fieldwork was undertaken between 28 March and 13 June 2022. A total of 7,518 New Zealanders completed the survey – of whom 2,612 were Auckland residents.
