Quality of life survey 2022. Results for Auckland

Author:

NielsenIQ

Source:

Auckland Council Research and Evaluation Unit, NielsenIQ

Publication date:

2022

Topics:

People

Rangahau te koru o te ora. Quality of life survey 2022. Auckland report

The Quality of Life 2022 survey is a collaborative local government research project. The primary objective is to measure residents’ perceptions across a range of measures that impact on New Zealanders’ quality of life. The Quality of Life survey was originally established in response to growing pressures on urban communities, concern about the impacts of urbanisation and the effect of this on the residents' wellbeing. Participating councils use the survey results to help inform their policy and planning responses to population growth and change.

The survey measures residents’ perceptions across several domains that contribute to quality of life and wellbeing, including:

Overall quality of life
Environment (built and natural)
Housing
Public transport
Health and wellbeing
Crime, safety and local issues
Community, culture and social networks
Climate change
Employment and economic wellbeing
Council decision making processes, and
Impact of Covid-19

This report provides Quality of Life Survey 2022 results for Auckland.

The Auckland report provides results across all local boards (results for Aotea/Great Barrier and Waiheke are combined), as well as by broad age and ethnic groups.

Highlights:

The survey results reveal and confirm wide variations in experiences across Auckland by local board, age, and ethnicity.

For instance, although most Auckland respondents (82%) rated their overall quality of life as positive, this varied across the city, with lower perceptions of overall quality of life in many southern and western local boards, and higher perceptions in northern and central local boards.

Respondents living in southern and western local boards (including Ōtara-Papatoetoe, Māngere-Ōtāhuhu, Manurewa, Papakura, Henderson-Massey, and Whau) typically reported lower levels of wellbeing in housing affordability, ability to meet everyday living costs, issues affecting their local communities, and experiences of public transport. Meanwhile, those living in northern and central local board areas (including Rodney, Hibiscus and Bays, Devonport-Takapuna, Waiheke-Aotea/Great Barrier, and Ōrākei) experienced higher levels of wellbeing in these same domains.

Issues such as theft and burglary, dangerous driving, people begging on the street, and people sleeping rough, were viewed as issues of concern more commonly by residents in southern and western local boards.

Despite these differences, many Auckland respondents across different local board areas, age and ethnicity groups reported a high level of social wellbeing. The majority felt they had someone they could turn to for practical (90%) and emotional (88%) support during a difficult time. Most (74%) participated in a social network or group. Over half (56%) of Auckland respondents felt accepted and valued for their identity and 72% agreed they felt comfortable dressing in a way that expresses their identity in public.

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The Quality of Life survey was first conducted in 2003, repeated in 2004, and has been undertaken every two years since. The number of participating councils has varied each time.

Nine councils participated in the 2022 Quality of Life survey project, as follows:

Auckland Council
Hamilton City Council
Tauranga City Council
Hutt City Council
Porirua City Council
Wellington City Council
Christchurch City Council
Dunedin City Council
Greater Wellington Regional Council

The target population was New Zealanders aged 18 years and over, living within the areas governed by the participating councils.

Auckland Council technical report, TR2022/24

November 2022.

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