An increasing number of Lower Hutt residents rate their city as a great place to live.

That's according to the results of the latest Quality of Life Survey, a collaboration between 9 councils around New Zealand that examines how different urban areas fare when it comes to wellbeing of their residents. The 2018 survey measured the perceptions of more than 7000 residents in Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington, Hutt City, Porirua, Christchurch and Dunedin, as well as the Greater Wellington area.

Of those surveyed in Lower Hutt, 81% rated the city is a great place to live, compared to 78% two years ago, while 89% of respondents said the quality of life in Lower Hutt was good to extremely good, up from 82% last time.

Thirty four percent of respondents said that Lower Hutt was a better place to live than 12 months earlier, citing improved amenities as the main reason (35%), just ahead of good recreational facilities (26%).

Lower Hutt Mayor Ray Wallace says the results are extremely pleasing.

"Five years ago this Council started a programme of work to rejuvenate the city by building new community facilities and refurbishing some of the older ones. Residents have always been supportive of this work so we know it's something they value."

"We have new community hubs at Stokes Valley and Taita, a new Events Centre and refurbished Town Hall, and the new Ricoh Sports Centre about to open at Fraser Park. These are all great community facilities that help make Lower Hutt a great place to live."

The survey also identified issues that worry people in Lower Hutt, which included traffic congestion (25%), homelessness and a lack of suitable housing (16%) and an increase in crime (14%).

"Homelessness is a problem in many parts of the country, including Lower Hutt. We've started a piece of work to better understand our local situation and what we as a Council can do about it."

Participating councils use the survey findings to help inform their policy and planning responses to population growth and change.

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