Quality of Life viewed positively in North Shore City
The vast majority of North Shore City residents view their quality of life positively and feel a sense of pride in the
way their city looks and feels, says a report out today (March 16).
Of the 12 cities that took part in the third Quality of Life in New Zealand Cities survey, North Shore City topped the
average positivity rating of 88 per cent with 90 per cent of residents rating their overall quality of life highly.
Mayor George Wood expressed delight at the recent findings. “North Shore has faired consistently well in the Quality of
Life surveys and I am pleased to see that so many of our people are proud of our city and enjoy living here,” he says.
The survey results showed that the residents of Rodney and Dunedin rated their quality of life highest (91 percent) with
North Shore, Tauranga and Porirua cities a close joint second.
Residents of North Shore were most likely to feel safe or very safe in their city centres after dark (62 percent). Less
encouraging were the use of public transport findings with only 25 percent of North Shore residents using public
transport at least weekly or daily.
The North Shore City Council is investing heavily to deliver better transport, with more services and bus priority
measures. The changes will mean faster, more reliable public transport. New bus services are being introduced and the
first Northern Busway park and ride station at Constellation Drive will open this year. “We need to get more people
using buses and ferries”, says Mr Wood.
Mr Wood says the Quality of Life project provides valuable information to councils like North Shore City. “The survey
helps decision-makers like myself and my colleagues, to improve the quality of life for people in our community. We’ll
be looking in detail at the findings and these along with the feedback that we are getting from our conversation with
residents on community outcomes will provide the direction for the city’s future,” says Mr Wood.
“We were really encouraged to see that over three-quarters of North Shore respondents felt that they can play a part in
making their community a better place to live. Having just held our civic awards this week, I have seen how many of our
residents are doing just that in so many different ways. We all have a part to play in making this city a great place to
live. It’s not just up to councils”.
(ends)
About the Quality of Life 2004 Survey
The Quality of Life 2004 Survey is a partnership between 12 Quality of Life Project Cities and the Ministry of Social
Development. The 12 cities are: North Shore, Waitakere, Auckland, Manukau, Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington, Porirua,
Hutt, Christchurch, and Dunedin plus Rodney District.
For more information and full details of the latest report visit www.bigcities.govt.nz
The 2004 survey is part of an ongoing series of surveys and research exploring quality of life and well-being issues.
This information will be used to help inform central and local government policy makers to inform quality of life for
New Zealanders. The information will be particularly useful for cities undertaking monitoring of progress toward
achieving community outcomes under the Local Government Act.
Survey interviews were conducted over the telephone with 7,800 people covering a wide range of subjects: Health, free
time, well-being, public transport, democracy, work-related issues, crime/safety, community and built environment.
Have your say on the future of North Shore City…Click on ‘Your Words are your city’s direction’ @
www.northshorecity.govt.nz