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The 2016 Survey has now been completed and the report is now available.

The 2016 Quality of Life Survey results are available here »

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The Quality of Life Project was initiated in 1999 in response to growing pressures on urban communities, concern about the impacts of urbanisation and the effects of this on the wellbeing of residents.

The project was a collaboration between councils represented in Local Government New Zealand’s Local Government Metro Sector forum.

The key purpose of the project was to provide information to decision-makers to improve the quality of life in major New Zealand urban areas.

The last full Quality of Life report was prepared in 2007.

Following several significant events in New Zealand, including the Canterbury earthquakes, the subsequent postponement of the 2011 Census of Population and Dwellings to 2013, the amalgamation of local government in the Auckland region in 2010, and a general tightening of local government funds, a decision was made to disband the wider Project.

However, it was agreed by the core participating councils of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin to continue in a collaborative partnership with the 2014 and 2016 Surveys.

The reasons for this include:

• The Quality of Life survey is distinct from annual resident ‘opinion’ or ‘satisfaction’ surveys which are concerned with council services rather than wider perceptions; 
• the results are directly comparable between council areas and over time; 
• the results are used by councils in monitoring wellbeing in their areas;
• there are cost efficiencies for participating in a joint survey.