Quality of Life Survey 2008

Most New Zealanders continue to believe they have a very high quality of life, according to the results of a national survey released today. 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 'the rest of New Zealand', while those who rated it less favourably live in Waitakere, Hutt and Manukau.

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."

Go to the Quality of Life website (opens in a new window)

Dunedin results in the 2008 Quality of Life Survey (PDF 24.7kb)

Contact details

Contact Jim Harland on 03 474 3851.

Last reviewed: 06 Apr 2009 9:04am