23 January 2001 Media Statement
Social progress to be measured alongside economic indicators – Maharey
The Government is working on a series of indicators which will allow New Zealanders to chart the social wellbeing of the
nation alongside the development of the economy, Social Services and Employment Minister Steve Maharey said today.
Mr Maharey delivered his inaugural State of the Nation address to the Takaro Rotary Club in Palmerston North this
evening.
The Labour-Alliance Government inherited a legacy of major social problems across New Zealand society which it is
determined to tackle and resolve. A number of initiatives were taken last year to provide new opportunities and
increased security for New Zealanders. Mr Maharey said the Ministry of Social Policy would complete work this year on a
series of objective indicators that can be used to measure the social well-being of New Zealand society.
"Measuring economic growth in isolation can not provide the Government with sufficient information about how our
policies are improving the lives of New Zealanders. We need to measure social development objectively in the same way as
we track the economy.
"There are no official measures of poverty. We must have good information on a variety of indicators such as poverty and
deprivation, educational under-achievement and adult illiteracy, and social isolation to know if our policies are
working.
"Significant progress was made last year on building a fairer society. Income-related rents have made quality housing
affordable again for the poorest New Zealanders and unemployment reached a 12-year low.
"However, still too many people lack basic literacy skills, too many remain in poverty and too many people live isolated
lives away from their communities. This must change and we must have proper tools to measure our progress," Steve
Maharey said.
ENDS