Key points
This indicator measures residents’ views about whether cultural diversity makes their region/city/town a better or worse place to live. New Zealand is home for an increasing number of people with diverse lifestyles and cultures from different countries. This diversity impacts on how we communicate with different population groups, how they are made to feel part of the city and the quality of life they enjoy.
Baseline data for Waikato regional communities was collected through the 2007 Waikato Community Outcomes Survey commissioned by MARCO and Choosing Futures Waikato. This was repeated in 2010. Respondents were asked: ‘New Zealand is becoming home for an increasing number of people from different countries with different lifestyles and cultures. Using the scale where 0 = strongly disagree and 10 = strongly agree, how strongly do you agree or disagree with <statement>?’ The two statements were (a) ‘Your family are knowledgeable and show respect for the many and diverse cultures of the people who live here’ and (b) ‘Your neighbourhood are knowledgeable and show respect for the many and diverse cultures of the people who live here.’ From the resulting percentages, an Agreement Index (weighted average score) was calculated for each statement.
- Most people in the Waikato Region agree with the statement ‘Your family are knowledgeable and show respect for the many and diverse cultures of the people who live here’. A slightly smaller proportion agree that ‘Your neighbourhood are knowledgeable and show respect for the many and diverse cultures of the people who live here’.
- Many survey respondents said that they there feel are no cultural problems and people are accepted as part of the community. However a relatively small proportion of respondents felt that different cultures were not welcomed by the community, while a few had issues with other races or chose not to mix.
Perceptions of cultural diversity – Family respect for cultures – Waikato territorial authority areas 2007 and 2010
Source: 2007 and 2010 Waikato Community Outcomes Survey (International Research Consultants Ltd/MARCO).
Note: The 2010 survey sample included 70 interviews for most districts (100 for Hamilton) but only 21 for Waitomo and 8 for Rotorua. The 2007 survey used a similar sampling method. Hence, the results for Waitomo and Rotorua should be treated with particular caution.
Perceptions of cultural diversity – Neighbourhood respect for cultures – Waikato territorial authority areas 2007 and 2010
Source: 2007 and 2010 Waikato Community Outcomes Survey (International Research Consultants Ltd/MARCO).
Note: The 2010 survey sample included 70 interviews for most districts (100 for Hamilton) but only 21 for Waitomo and 8 for Rotorua. The 2007 survey used a similar sampling method. Hence, the results for Waitomo and Rotorua should be treated with particular caution.
What agencies are doing
Information currently being collated.
What you can do to help
Information currently being collated.
More information
More detail on this indicator, including how and where this information is collected, is available here.
What we want to achieve
The community outcome we are seeking to achieve by increasing the percentage of residents’ perceiving that cultural diversity makes their region/city/town a better place to live is:
- We are knowledgeable about and show respect for the many and diverse cultures of the people who live here.