Absolutely Fabulous - Life in New Zealand, Over the Last 10 Years:
Nielsen Media Research Auckland, December 20, 2004: The past decade has been a fabulous period of improvement in the
quality of life for people of all ethnic backgrounds living in New Zealand, according to a major new research report
released today by Nielsen Media Research
The new report, entitled Living in New Zealand: 10 Fabulous Years is drawn from Nielsen Media’s Panorama database,
compiled from interviews with 12,000 New Zealanders each period.
Nielsen Media Data from 1994, 1999 and 2004 provides a unique and authoritative analysis of the changes in New Zealand
over the past decade.
The Nielsen Media report found that New Zealand has become a better place to live and work, with growth and improvements
in every key area between 1994 and 2004. These include:
Rapid population growth, fed by a high influx of migrants, particularly into Auckland. Approximately one in every four
people in Auckland today was not living there in 1994.
The emergence of Auckland as an epicentre of ethnic diversity. Locally born people of European descent now account for
less than half of the Auckland population. Improving racial harmony, despite the high influx of people from different
ethnic backgrounds Solid growth in incomes and a significant drop in the number of people who claim they find it
difficult to make ends meet (down from almost one in three in 1994, to one in four in 2004)
The significant increase in perceptions of opportunities for women A better life for Maoris, with a reduction between
Maoris and New Zealanders of European descent in areas such as incomes and job opportunities A new pride in Maori
culture, reflected in the number of New Zealanders who have changed their view about their ethnicity and now claim a
Maori background
Nick Jones, Executive Director of Nielsen Media Research said the report revealed an increasingly successful and
confident nation eager to build its connections with the rest of world.
“From a solid domestic position, New Zealand has confidently opened its doors to the rest of the world and from 2001 has
welcomed a substantially higher intake of migrants.
“Many thousands of these new arrivals are highly skilled business managers, business owners and professionals from
Europe, Asia and the Pacific region.
“This is the best possible measure of New Zealand’s success over the past decade and the nation’s ability to offer
opportunities and a lifestyle that is equal to any country in the world,” Mr Jones said.
ENDS