Tauranga residents are more satisfied about their quality of life than residents of other cities, but we’re also more frustrated about traffic congestion, a new survey has found.
The 2018 Quality of Life survey is a partnership between eight New Zealand councils that measures people’s perceptions about their quality of life. Results were announced today and are available at www.qualityoflifeproject.govt.nz
Results for Tauranga showed the highest overall satisfaction with quality of life. Tauranga also scored highest for health, emotional wellbeing and appreciation of the natural environment. Quality of lifestyle for Tauranga was second highest at 39%, just behind Christchurch at 40%.
However, 56% of Tauranga respondents said their city had become a worse place to live over the previous 12 months, with the two main reasons cited being increase in traffic congestion and increase in population. At 83%,Tauranga’s score for traffic frustration was significantly higher than any other city, with Auckland coming in next at 36%.
Mayor Greg Brownless said that the poor score regarding traffic and congestion was no surprise given the challenges that came with rapid population growth.
“Tauranga has grown very quickly without a corresponding investment in roading networks, public transport and cycling. Solutions to traffic congestion lie not simply in bigger roads but in making it easier for more people to travel without always relying on their cars. This year the council has approved significantly more funding for cycling and public transport infrastructure, and the Bay of Plenty Regional Council is planning more frequent bus services and new bus routes to suit more people,” said Greg.
The survey results will be used to inform Tauranga City Council’s strategic planning, including the Draft Community Wellbeing Strategic Plan, the Tauranga Urban Strategy and Transport Strategy.
“The ongoing challenge for our city is how best to cater for all of our residents, current and future, while safeguarding – and enhancing – the things that make Tauranga such a great place to live,” said Greg.
Councils participating in the Quality of Life survey were: Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Hutt, Porirua, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.
Snapshots from the survey
Overall quality of life comparisons with other cities:
- Tauranga 91%
- Hutt 90%
- Wellington 89%
- Dunedin 87%
- Porirua 85%
- Hamilton 84%
- Christchurch 84%
- Auckland 83%
Is Tauranga a great place to live?
- Wellington 94%
- Dunedin 87%
- Tauranga 86%
- Hutt 81%
- Auckland 79%
- Hamilton 75%
- Christchurch 73%
- Porirua 72%
Do you feel a sense of pride in the look and feel of your area?
- Wellington 89%
- Dunedin 73%
- Tauranga 66%
- Auckland 62%
- Hamilton 53%
- Hutt 50%
- Christchurch 44%
- Porirua 43%
Are your housing costs affordable?
- Dunedin 65%
- Hutt 58%
- Christchurch 57%
- Tauranga 56%
- Hamilton 51%
- Wellington 50%
- Porirua 47%
- Auckland 41%
Reasons for positive quality of life rating
Lifestyle
- Christchurch 40%
- Tauranga 39%
- Wellington 36%
- Dunedin 35%
- Hutt 34%
- Porirua 33%
- Auckland 32%
- Hamilton 31%
Appreciation of natural environment
- Tauranga 13%
- Auckland 8%
- Porirua 8%
- Dunedin 8%
- Wellington 7%
- Hutt 5%
- Christchurch 4%
- Hamilton 3%
Health and wellbeing
- Dunedin 45%
- Christchurch 45%
- Tauranga 43%
- Wellington 42%
- Auckland 41%
- Hamilton 41%
- Hutt 40%
- Porirua 40%
Relationships
- • Wellington 49%
- • Christchurch 49%
- • Tauranga 48%
- • Dunedin 45%
- • Auckland 44%
- • Hutt 44%
- • Porirua 44%
- • Hamilton 41%
Why has your city become a better place to live over the previous 12 months?
Improved amenities
- Auckland 37%
- Hutt 35%
- Dunedin 32%
- Tauranga 31%
- Christchurch 24%
- Wellington 22%
- Porirua 20%
- Hamilton 19%
Growth – economy and business
- Tauranga 15%
- Dunedin 12%
- Hamilton 8%
- Christchurch 7%
- Porirua 7%
- Hutt 5%
- Wellington 3%
- Auckland 3%
Good roads / roads being upgraded
- Christchurch 16%
- Tauranga 14%
- Auckland 10%
- Hamilton 10%
- Hutt 8%
- Wellington 6%
- Dunedin 4%
- Porirua 3%
Why has your city become a worse place to live over the last 12 months?
More traffic and traffic congestion
- Tauranga 83%
- Auckland 36%
- Hamilton 32%
- Wellington 29%
- Hutt 255
- Dunedin 19%
- Christchurch 7%
Increase in population
- Tauranga 25%
- Auckland 9%
- Dunedin 7%
- Hamilton 4%
- Porirua 4%
- Christchurch 3%
- Hutt 2%
- Wellington 1%
Infrastructure failing to keep up with demand
- Tauranga 17%
- Dunedin 9%
- Auckland 7%
- Hamilton 5%
- Porirua 5%
- Wellington 5%
- Christchurch 2%
- Hutt 2%
Homelessness
- Wellington 44%
- Tauranga 20%
- Hamilton 19%
- Hutt 16%
- Dunedin 13%
- Auckland 11%
- Christchurch 9%
- Porirua 7%
Crime rate has increased
- Hamilton 33%
- Porirua 22%
- Auckland 16%
- Hutt 14%
- Christchurch 12%
- Tauranga 2%
- Wellington 1%
- Dunedin 0%
Lack of maintenance
- Auckland 14%
- Hutt 8%
- Porirua 6%
- Christchurch 6%
- Dunedin 6%
- Hamilton 5%
- Wellington 2%
- Tauranga 2%