Key points
This indicator measures residents’ perception of overall quality of life. Data for this indicator was previously only available for major metropolitan areas such as Hamilton. Baseline data for Waikato regional communities was collected through the 2007 Waikato Community Outcomes Survey commissioned by MARCO and Choosing Futures Waikato. The survey was repeated in 2010. Respondents to the 2010 Waikato Community Outcomes Survey were asked ‘Thinking in general about your Quality of Life and using the scale where 0 = very unhappy and 10 = very happy, how happy are you with your Quality of Life?’
- According to results from the 2010 Waikato Community Outcomes Survey, the majority of regional residents are happy with their quality of life. The ‘Happiness Index’ (a weighted score across the quality of life scale) was 82.0 points for the Waikato Region overall, with some variation between territorial authority areas.
Respondents’ rating of overall quality of life – Waikato territorial authority areas
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 outcomes we are seeking to achieve by improving overall quality of life are:
- We are healthy, with active lifestyles and enjoy a total sense of well-being. Everyone has access to affordable quality health services throughout the Waikato region.
- Maori enjoy the same quality of health, education, housing, employment and economic outcomes as non-Maori.